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List of former territorial authorities in New Zealand facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This is a list of former territorial authorities in New Zealand. "Territorial authority" is the generic term used for local government entities in New Zealand. Local government has gone through three principal phases with different structures: the provincial era, from 1853 to 1876; the counties and boroughs system from 1876 until 1989; and the current system of regions, cities and districts.

This article attempts to list all territorial authorities which have been disestablished.

Provincial era (until 1876)

The original three provinces were established in 1841 by Royal Charter. The New Zealand Constitution Act 1846 reduced the number of provinces to two. The New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 re-divided New Zealand into six provinces, and four additional provinces emerged during the remainder of the Provincial Era. This era came to end with the Abolition of Provinces Act 1876.

Province Established Disestablished Notes
Auckland 1853 1876
Canterbury 1853 1876
Hawke's Bay 1858 1876 Formerly part of Wellington Province
Marlborough 1859 1876 Formerly part of Nelson Province
Nelson 1853 1876
New Leinster 1841 1846 New Zealand Constitution Act 1846
New Munster 1841 1853 New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
New Plymouth 1853 1876 Renamed "Taranaki" in 1859
New Ulster 1841 1853 New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
Otago 1853 1876
Southland 1861 1870 Originally part of, and later reunited with, Otago Province
Wellington 1853 1876
Westland 1873 1876 Independent (Westland County) from 1868, and before that part of Canterbury Province

Post-provincial era (1876–1989)

After New Zealand abolished its provinces in 1876, a system of counties similar to other countries' systems was instituted, lasting with little change (except mergers and other localised boundary adjustments) until 1989 when they were reorganised into district councils within a system of larger regions.

The Local Government Act 1974 began the process of bringing urban, mixed, and rural councils into the same legislative framework. Substantial reorganisations under that Act resulted in a shake-up in 1989, which abolished all the counties except for the Chatham Islands County, which survived under that name for a further 6 years but then became a "Territory" under the "Chatham Islands Council".

Borough councils

New Zealand formerly used the term borough to designate self-governing towns of more than 1,000 people, although 19th century census records show many boroughs with populations as low as 200.

Council Established Disestablished Area Notes
Akaroa
Alexandra 1867 1989 1.92 km2 (470 acres) (1986) Merged into Central Otago District
Arrowtown 10 May 1877 1989 170 acres (0.69 km2(1877)
1.92 km2 (470 acres) (1986)
Merged into Queenstown-Lakes District
Ashburton 9 September 1878 1989 12.27 km2 (4.74 sq mi) (1986) Merged into Ashburton District
Auckland 1851 1871 Declared a city.
Avenal 1876 1909 Amalgamated with Invercargill Borough
Avondale 1922 1927 Amalgamated with Auckland City
Balclutha 1870 1989 568 acres (2.30 km2(1877)
5.26 km2 (1,300 acres) (1986)
Merged into Clutha District
Birkenhead 1888 1978 Proclaimed a city on 15 March 1978
Blenheim 1869 1989 17.68 km2 (6.83 sq mi) (1986) Merged into Marlborough District
Bluff 1917 1989 8.67 km2 Merged into Invercargill city. See Campbelltown below.
Brunner 1887 1971 23 km2 (5,700 acres) (1969) Amalgamated with Grey County
Cambridge 1886 1989 9.65 km2 Merged into Waipa District
Caversham 1877 1904 4.34 km2 Amalgamated with Dunedin city
Campbelltown 1878 1917 8.67 km2 Formally renamed Bluff (see above)
Carterton 1887 1989 39.81 km2 Grew into Carterton District
Cromwell 1866 1989 33.3 km2 Merged into Central Otago District
Dannevirke 1892 1987 5.62 km2 In 1987 merged with Dannevirke County to form Dannevirke District, which merged into Tararua District in 1989
Dargaville 1908 1989 11.33 km2 Merged into Kaipara District
Devonport 1886 1989 5.79 km2 Merged into North Shore City
Dunedin South 1908 Amalgamated with Dunedin city
Eastbourne 1905 1989 12.95 km2 Merged into Lower Hutt City
East Coast Bays 1954 1975 Proclaimed a city on 1 April 1975
East Invercargill 1876 1909 Amalgamated with Invercargill Borough
Eketahuna 1907 fl. 1972 Merged into Eketahuna County
Ellerslie 1938 1989 3.01 km2 Merged into Auckland City
Eltham 1901 1989 6.47 km2 Merged into South Taranaki District
Featherston 1917 1989 3.07 km2 Merged into South Wairarapa District
Feilding 1881 1989 8.52 km2 Merged into Manawatū District
Foxton 1883 1989 3.07 km2 Merged into Horowhenua District
Geraldine 1904 1989 3.22 km2 Merged into Timaru District
Gladstone 1876 1909 Amalgamated with Invercargill Borough
Glen Eden fl. 1972 1989 4.95 km2 Merged into Waitakere City
Gore 1885 1989 9.43 km2 Merged into Gore District
Green Island 1875 1989 7.28 km2 Merged into Dunedin City
Grey Lynn 1899 1914 Amalgamated with Auckland City
Greymouth 1868 1989 10.48 km2 Merged into Grey District
Greytown 1878 1989 4.45 km2 Merged into South Wairarapa District
Hampden 1879 1967 Amalgamated with Waitaki County
Havelock North 1989 5.63 km2 Merged into Hastings District
Hawera fl. 1972
Helensville 1947 1989 5.32 km2 Merged into Rodney District
Henderson 1946 1989 66.7 km2 Merged into Waitakere City
Hokitika 1868 1989 35.7 km2 Merged into Westland District
Howick 1952 1989 6.21 km2 Merged into Manukau City
Huntly 1931 1989 9.3 km2 Merged into Waikato District
Inglewood 1902 1986 2.83 km2 Merged into Inglewood District 1986 Merged into New Plymouth District 1989
Invercargill 1871 1930 Elevated to City
Kaiapoi 1868 1989 4.66 km2 Merged into Waimakariri District
Kaikohe 1947 1989 5.44 km2 Merged into Far North District
Kaitaia 1922 1989 6.95 km2 Merged into Far North District
Kaitangata 1882 1989 3.64 km2 Merged into Clutha District
Kāpiti 1974 1989 160.64 km2 Merged into Kāpiti Coast District
Kawerau 1954 1989 21.74 km2 Changed to Kawerau District
Kumara 1877 1969 3.41 km2 (842 acres) (1969) Merged into Hokitika Borough
Lawrence 1866 1989 2.95 km2 Merged into Clutha District
Levin 1906 1989 12.95 km2 Merged into Horowhenua District
Linwood 22 February 1893 1 April 1903 Amalgamated with Christchurch city
Lyttelton 28 May 1868 1989 10.36 km2 Merged into Banks Peninsula District
Maori Hill 1876 1915 14.97 km2 Amalgamated with Dunedin City
Manurewa 1937 1965 Merged into Manukau City
Martinborough 1928 1989 4.33 km2 Merged into South Wairarapa District
Marton 1879 1989 5.72 km2 Merged into Rangitikei District
Masterton 1877 1989 17.96 km2 Merged into Masterton District
Matamata 1935 1989 5.33 km2 Merged into Matamata-Piako District
Mataura 1895 1989 5.15 km2 Merged into Gore District
Milton 1866 1989 3.88 km2 Merged into Clutha District
Mornington 1877 1915 2.65 km2 Amalgamated with Dunedin City
Morrinsville 1921 1989 4.76 km2 Merged into Matamata-Piako District
Mosgiel 1884 1989 7.87 km2 Merged into Dunedin City
Motueka 1900 1989 47.9 km2 Merged into Tasman District
Mount Albert 1911 1978 Became Mount Albert City
Mount Eden 1906 1989 5.98 km2 Merged into Auckland City
Mount Maunganui 1945 1989 19.11 km2 Merged into Tauranga City
Mount Roskill 1947 1989 18.62 km2 Merged into Auckland City
Mount Wellington 1952 1986 16.72 km2 Merged with Otahuhu borough to become Tamaki City
Murupara 1962 1989 30.0 km2 Merged into Whakatane District
Naseby 1872 1989 0.73 km2 Merged into Central Otago District
New Brighton 1897 1941 Amalgamated with Christchurch city
New Lynn 1910 1989 5.63 km2 Merged into Waitakere City
Newmarket 1885 1989 0.79 km2 Amalgamated with Auckland City
Newton 1885 1899 Renamed Grey Lynn Borough.
Ngaruawahia 1920 1989 5.18 km2 Merged into Waikato District
Northcote 1908 1989 5.40 km2 Merged into North Shore City
North East Valley 1877 1910 16.11 km2 Amalgamated with Dunedin City
North Invercargill 1876 1909 Amalgamated with Invercargill Borough
Oamaru 1866 1989 7.43 km2 Merged into Waitaki District
Ohakune 1911 1989 8.41 km2 Merged into Ruapehu District
Onehunga 1877 1989 7.60 km2 Merged into Auckland City
One Tree Hill 1930 1989 9.83 km2 Merged into Auckland City
Opotiki 1911 1973 Amalgamated with Opotiki County
Otahuhu 1912 1986 5.74 km2 Merged with Mount Wellington borough to become Tamaki City
Otaki 1921 1989 43.20 km2 Merged into Kāpiti Coast District
Paeroa 1915 1989 5.75 km2 Merged into Hauraki District
Pahiatua 1892 1989 2.91 km2 Merged into Tararua District
Palmerston 1872 1966
Papakura 1 April 1938 1975 Constituted a city on 1 January 1975
Papatoetoe 1946 5 October 1965 Elevated to city
Parnell 1877 1913 Amalgamated with Auckland City
Patea 1881 1989 5.75 km2 Merged into South Taranaki District
Petone 1888 1989 10.28 km2 Merged into Lower Hutt City
Picton 1876 1989 4.24 km2 Merged into Marlborough District
Port Chalmers 1866 1989 4.01 km2 Merged into Dunedin City
Pukekohe 1905 1989 14.05 km2 Merged into Franklin District
Putaruru 1926 1989 3.94 km2 Merged into South Waikato District
Queenstown 1866 1986 4.21 km2 Merged with Lake County to form Queenstown-Lakes District
Raetihi 1921 1989 3.88 km2 Merged into Ruapehu District
Rangiora 1871 1986 3.56 km2 Amalgamated with Rangiora County to form Rangiora District.
Riccarton 1913 1989 2.83 km2 Merged into Christchurch City
Richmond 1891 1989 10.52 km2 Merged into Tasman District
Riverton 1871 1983
Roslyn 1877 1912 8.09 km2 Amalgamated with Dunedin City
Ross 1878 1972 Amalgamated with Westland County
Roxburgh 1874 1989 2.08 km2 Merged into Central Otago District
Runanga 1912 1989 4.80 km2 Merged into Grey District
St Albans 24 November 1881 1 April 1903 Amalgamated with Christchurch city
Saint Kilda 1875 1989 2.47 km2 Merged into Dunedin City
South Dunedin 1875 1905 1.67 km2 Amalgamated with Dunedin City
South Invercargill 1877 1956 Amalgamated with Invercargill City
Spreydon 1 April 1911 1921 Amalgamated with Christchurch City.
Stratford 1898 1989 8.16 km2 Merged into Stratford District
Sumner 1891 1 April 1945 Amalgamated with Christchurch city
Sydenham 20 September 1877 1 April 1903 Amalgamated with Christchurch city
Taihape 1906 1989 7.78 km2 Merged into Rangitikei District
Takapuna 1913 1961 Elevated to city
Tapanui 1876 1989 1.21 km2 Merged into Clutha District
Taumarunui 1910 1989 15.7 km2 Merged into Ruapehu District
Taupō fl. 1972 1989 33.85 km2 Merged into Taupō District
Tauranga 1882 1963  km2 Elevated to city
Tawa fl. 1972 1989 6.94 km2 Merged into Wellington City
Te Aroha 1898 1989 31.8 km2 Merged into Matamata-Piako District
Te Awamutu 1915 1989 7.13 km2 Merged into Waipa District
Te Kuiti fl. 1972
Temuka 1899 1989 4.05 km2 Merged into Timaru District
Te Puke 1935 1989 5.34 km2 Merged into Western Bay of Plenty District
Thames fl. 1972
Tokoroa 1975 1989 13.25 km2 Merged into South Waikato District
Tuakau fl. 1972 1989 4.42 km2 Merged into Franklin District
Upper Hutt 1 February 1928 2 May 1966 City of Upper Hutt proclaimed
Waihi 1902 1989 5.4 km2 Merged into Hauraki District
Waikouaiti 1866 1966 Known as West Hawksbury until 1909
Waimate 1879 1989 3.12 km2 Merged into Waimate District
Waipawa fl. 1972 Merged into Central Hawke's Bay District
Waipukurau fl. 1972 Merged into Central Hawke's Bay District
Wairoa 1909 1989 6.59 km2 Merged into Wairoa District
Waitara 1904 1989 6.32 km2 Merged into New Plymouth District
Waiuku 1989 5.93 km2 Merged into Franklin District
West Harbour 1877 1963 Western part amalgamated with Dunedin City, eastern part amalgamated with Waikouaiti County
Westport 1873 1989 3.44 km2 Merged into Buller District
Whakatane 1917 1976  km2 Amalgamated with Whakatane County to form Whakatane District
Winton 1877 1989 2.36 km2 Amalgamated with three other local authorities in 1989 to form Southland District.
Woodville 1887 1989 4.25 km2 Merged into Tararua District
Woolston 27 July 1893 1921 Amalgamated with Christchurch City.

Cities

Prior to 1989, any borough with a population exceeding 20,000 could proclaim itself a city. As part of the restructuring, many provincial cities were combined with surrounding rural counties to form districts. For example, Hastings became a district, although its population is greater than nearby city Napier, which did not acquire any rural areas. The term city is still used informally for all large towns. Rotorua was a city from 1962 until 1979, when it amalgamated with Rotorua County to become Rotorua District. New Zealand's first city was Christchurch, proclaimed by royal charter in 1856. Cities continued to exist in the Auckland Region until 2010, when Auckland City, North Shore City, Waitakere City, Manukau City were merged with the surrounding districts into a single unitary authority.

Council Established Disestablished Area Notes
Auckland City 1871 2010 637 square kilometres (246 sq mi) Merged into North Shore City
Birkenhead 1978 1989 12.66 square kilometres (4.89 sq mi) Merged into North Shore City
East Coast Bays 1975 1989 15.59 square kilometres (6.02 sq mi) Merged into North Shore City
Gisborne 1989 26.28 square kilometres (10.15 sq mi) Merged into Gisborne District
Hastings 1989 19.46 square kilometres (7.51 sq mi) Merged into Hastings District
Manukau City 1965 2010 683 square kilometres (264 sq mi) Merged into Auckland Region
Mount Albert City 1978 1989 9.83 square kilometres (3.80 sq mi) Merged into Auckland City
New Plymouth 1949 1989 Merged into New Plymouth District
North Shore City 1989 2010 129.81 square kilometres (50.12 sq mi) Merged into Auckland Region
Papakura 1975 1989 13.95 square kilometres (5.39 sq mi) Merged into Papakura District
Papatoetoe 1965 1989 9.03 square kilometres (3.49 sq mi) Merged into Manukau City
Rotorua 1962 1979 Merged into Rotorua District
Takapuna 1961 1989 114 square kilometres (44 sq mi) Merged into North Shore City
Tamaki 1986 1989 Merged into Auckland City
Timaru 1989 22.84 square kilometres (8.82 sq mi) Merged into Timaru District
Waitakere City 1989 2010 367 square kilometres (142 sq mi) Merged into Auckland Region
Waitemata City 1974 1989 378.29 square kilometres (146.06 sq mi) Merged into Waitakere City
Wanganui 1989 33.93 square kilometres (13.10 sq mi) Merged into Wanganui District
Whangarei 1989 292.79 square kilometres (113.05 sq mi) Merged into Whangarei District

Counties

When the provinces were abolished in 1876, 63 counties were established to govern rural areas. There were subdivisions and amalgamations over the next 113 years, with as many as 129 counties existing at once. Note that the designation of an area as a county often predated the formation of a county council. In the interim there was often a roads board as the only form of local administration. Fiord and Sounds counties never formed county councils, due to insufficient population to govern.

County Established Disestablished Area Headquarters Notes
Akaroa 1876 1989 440.48 km2 Duvauchelle Merged into Banks Peninsula District
Akitio 1899 1976 Pongaroa Merged into Dannevirke County
Amuri 1876 1989 11,000 km2 Culverden Merged into Hurunui District
Ashburton 1876 1989 6174 km2 Ashburton
Ashley 1876 1977 Rangiora until 1968 then Balcairn Amalgamated with Waipara County to form Hurunui County.
Awakino 1922 Amalgamated with Waitomo to form Otorohanga County
Awatere fl. 1952 1976 Merged into Marlborough County
Bay of Islands 1876 1989 2132.5 km2 Kawakawa
Bruce 1876 1989 1347.4 km2 Milton Merged into Clutha District
Buller 1876 1989 15,000 km2 Westport
Castlepoint 1900 1958 Tīnui
Chatham Islands 1901 1989 963 km2 Waitangi
Cheviot 1876 1989 847.28 km2 Cheviot Merged into Hurunui District
Clifton 1885 1989 1175.9 km2 Waitara Merged into New Plymouth District.
Clutha 1876 1989 2683.2 km2 Balclutha Merged into Clutha District
Collingwood 1876 1956 Amalgamated with Takaka County to form Golden Bay County.
Cook 1876 1989 2729.4 km2 Gisborne Merged into Gisborne District
Coromandel 1876 1975 Amalgamated with Thames to form Thames-Coromandel District
Dannevirke 1907 1989 2217.8 km2 Dannevirke Merged into Tararua District
East Taupo 1876
Eden 1876 1940 Amalgamated with Auckland City
Egmont 1902 1989 621.86 km2 Ōpunake Merged into South Taranaki District
Eketahuna 1899 1989 8.29 km2 Eketahuna Merged into Tararua District
Ellesmere 1910 1989 1200.4 km2 Leeston Merged into Selwyn District
Eltham 1906 1989 1388.8 km2 Eltham Merged into South Taranaki District
Eyre 1912 1989 457.8 km2 Kaiapoi in 1952, later Eyreton Merged into Waimakariri District
Featherston 1902 1989 2471.9 km2 Martinborough
Fiord 1876 1981  km2 Amalgamated with Wallace County in 1981, at which time it was "the only one of 105 counties where the Counties Act (1956) is not wholly in force"
Franklin 1912 1989 1471.7 km2 Pukekohe Merged into Franklin District
Geraldine 1876  km2 Amalgamated with Levels County to form Strathallan County
Golden Bay 1956 1989 2661 km2 Takaka
Great Barrier Island 1913 1989 2.85 km2
Grey 1876 1989 4091 km2 Greymouth
Halswell 1910 1968 Halswell Amalgamated with Paparua County
Hauraki Plains 1920 1989 601.1 km2 Ngatea
Hawera  km2
Hawke's Bay 1876 1989 4828 km2 Napier
Heathcote 1910 1989 31.09 km2 Merged into Christchurch City
Hobson 1876 1989 1929.5 km2 Aratapu until 1909, then Dargaville Merged into Kaipara District
Hokianga 1876 1989 1588 km2 Rawene
Horowhenua 1884 1989 1422 km2 Levin Amalgamated with other entities to form Horowhenua District
Hurunui 1977 1989 3640 km2 Amberley Merged into Hurunui District
Hutt 1876 1989 6690 km2 Initially Wellington, later Wainuiomata Between 1908 and 1962 the Makara riding was a separate county. On 1 April 1973, parts were transferred to Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington cities. In 1988, the Horokiri riding was amalgamated with Porirua City, Wainuiomata riding with Lower Hutt City and Heretaunga-Pinehaven Community with Upper Hutt City, while the balance went to form part of the Kāpiti Coast District.
Inangahua 1876 1989 2440.8 km2 Reefton
Inglewood 1920 1986 535.22 km2 Inglewood Merged into Inglewood District 1986 Merged into New Plymouth District 1989
Kaikoura 1876 1989 2347.5 km2 Kaikoura
Kairanga 1901 1988 466.2 km2 Palmerston North Amalgamated with Manawatu County to form Manawatū District
Kaitieke 1910 1956 Raurimu Amalgamated with Taumarunui County
Kawhia 1905 1956 Kawhia Merged with Otorohanga District Council
Kiwitea 1893 1989 930.2 km2 Kimbolton Merged into Manawatū District
Kowai 1912 1968 Balcairn Amalgamated with Ashley County
Lake 1876 1986 10000 km2 Queenstown Merged with Queenstown Borough to form Queenstown-Lakes District
Levels 1894 1974  km2 Amalgamated with Geraldine County to form Strathallan County
MacKenzie 1883 1989 7386.6 km2 Fairlie
Makara 1908 1961 Formed from the Makara Riding of Hutt County. Remnant amalgamated with Hutt County when Porirua Borough established.
Malvern 1912 1989 4973 km2 Darfield Merged into Selwyn District
Manawatu 1876 1988 686.6 km2 Sanson Amalgamated with Kairanga County to form Manawatū District
Mangonui 1876 1989 2487 km2 Kaitaia
Maniototo 1876 1989 3471 km2 Ranfurly Became part of Central Otago District
Manukau 1876  km2
Marlborough 1876 1989 10478 km2 Blenheim Merged with Blenheim Borough and Picton Borough Marlborough District
Masterton 1900 1989 2410 km2 Masterton Merged with Masterton Borough to form Masterton District
Matakaoa fl. 1952 Te Araroa
Matamata fl. 1952 Tirau
Mauriceville 1899  km2
Mount Herbert 1902 1989 171.01 km2 Lyttelton Merged into Banks Peninsula District
Murchison 1 April 1909 1989 Murchison Merged into Tasman District
Ohinemuri 1885 1989 624.45 km2 Paeroa
Ohura 1908 1956 Ohura Amalgamated with Taumarunui County
Opotiki 1899 1989 3474.65 km2 Opotiki
Oroua 1903 1989 492.3 km2 Feilding Merged into Manawatū District
Otamatea 1887 1989 1090.85 km2 Paparoa Merged into Kaipara District
Otorohanga 1922 1989 1976 km2 Ōtorohanga Formed from parts of Waitomo County and West Taupo County in 1922. Assimilated part of Kawhia County 1956
Oxford 1912 1989 823.96 km2 Oxford
Pahiatua 1888 1989 736.3 km2 Pahiatua
Paparua 1912 1989 448.18 km2 Divided between Christchurch City and Selwyn District
Patangata 1885 1974  km2 Merged into Waipukurau County
Patea 1876 1989 1531 km2 Patea Merged into South Taranaki District
Peninsula 1877 1968  km2 More or less inactive until reconstituted in 1926. Amalgamated with Dunedin City in 1967.
Piako 1876 1989 1171 km2 Te Aroha Merged into Matamata-Piako District
Pohangina 1894 1989 671 km2 Ashhurst Merged into Manawatū District and Palmerston North City
Raglan 1876 1989 2412.3 km2 Ngāruawāhia Merged into Waikato District
Rangiora 1912 1986 Rangiora Amalgamated with Rangiora borough to form Rangiora District.
Rangitikei 1876 1989 4490 km2 Marton
Rodney 1876 1989 23.34 km2 Orewa Part merged into Kaipara District
Rotorua 1979 2615 km2 Rotorua Became Rotorua District
Selwyn 1876 1910 Subdivided into ten smaller counties.
Silverpeaks 1977 1989 3289 km2 Dunedin Formed in 1977 by the merger of Taieri County and Waikouaiti County.
Sounds 1876 Merged into Marlborough District 1989. A Sounds County Council was never established
Southland 1876 1989 9590 km2 Invercargill Amalgamated with three other local authorities in 1989 to form Southland District.
Springs 1910 1989 Lincoln Merged into Selwyn District
Stewart Island 1876 1989 1750 km2 Halfmoon Bay Amalgamated with three other local authorities in 1989 to form Southland District.
Stratford 1890 1989 2163.56 km2 Stratford
Strathallan 1974 1989 2571.8 km2 Timaru
Taieri 1877 1977 Outram Amalgamated with Waikouaiti County to form Silverpeaks County.
Takaka 1956 Takaka Amalgamated with Collingwood County to form Golden Bay County.
Taranaki 1876 1989 588.17 km2 New Plymouth
Taumarunui 1921 1989 4895 km2 Taumarunui Took in Kaitieke County and Ohura County in 1952
Taupo 1954 1989 7282 km2 Taupō
Tauranga 1876 1989 1829.3 km2 Tauranga
Tawera
Thames 1876 1975 Thames Amalgamated with Coromandel County to form Thames/Coromandel District
Tuapeka 1876 1989 3586 km2 Lawrence
Uawa 1918 1964 Tolaga Bay Separated from Cook County 10 December 1918. Amalgamated with Cook County 1 April 1964.
Vincent 1876 1989 7553 km2 Clyde Became part of Central Otago District
Waiapu 1890 1989 2817.9 km2 Te Puia Springs
Waiheke 1970 1989 155.32 km2 Ostend
Waihemo 1882 1989 872.83 km2 Palmerston Merged into Waitaki District
Waikato 1876 1989 1651  km2 Hamilton Merged into Waikato District
Waikohu 1908 1989 2646.96 km2 Te Karaka
Waikouaiti 1877 1977  km2 Amalgamated with Taieri County to form Silverpeaks County.
Waimairi 1982 Redesignated Waimairi District
Waimarino 1902 1988 2249 km2 Raetihi Amalgamated with Raetihi Borough and Ohakune Borough to form Waimarino District
Waimate 1876 1989 3585 km2 Waimate
Waimate West 1908 1989 215.05 km2 Manaia
Waimea 1876 1989 7547 km2 Richmond
Waipa 1876 1989 1101 km2 Te Awamutu
Waipara 1909 1977 Waikari Amalgamated with Ashley County to form Hurunui County.
Waipawa 1876 1977 Waipawa Amalgamated with Waipawa Borough to form Waipawa District
Waipukurau 1977 Waipukurau Amalgamated with Waipukurau Borough to form Waipukurau District
Wairarapa East 1876
Wairarapa South 1877 1989 1140 km2 Carterton Merged with Carterton Borough to form Carterton District
Wairarapa West 1876
Wairewa 1910 1989 440.5 km2 Little River
Wairoa 1876 1989 4096.5 km2 Wairoa
Waitaki 1876 1989 6192.7 km2 Oamaru Created in 1876 but first Council did not meet until 1877
Waitemata 1876
Waitomo
Waitotara 1884 1989 1205.5 km2 Wanganui
Wallace 1876 1989 17520 km2 Riverton to 1898, thereafter Otautau Amalgamated with three other local authorities in 1989 to form Southland District.
Wanganui 1876 1989 1191 km2 Wanganui
Weber 1902 1956  km2 Dannevirke Merged into Dannevirke County
Wellington  ?  ?  km2  ? See Hutt County or Makara County for counties near Wellington.
West Taupo 1876  1,610 km2 West Taupo County Council was never set up. The area remained under road and town boards and government departments, until split between Taumarunui County Council, Kaitieke County Council and Taumarunui Town Board by the Waikato and King-country Counties Act 1921-1922. In 1921 the West Taupo area had 1,438 people living in 621 sq mi (1,610 km2).
Westland 1876 1989 11000 km2 Hokitika
Whakatane 1876  km2 Whakatane
Whangamomona  km2
Whangarei 1876 1989 2681.8 km2 Kamo Part merged into Kaipara District
Whangaroa 1876 1989 621.6 km2 Kaeo Merged into Far North District
Woodville 1901 1987 404.2 km2 Woodville Amalgamated with Woodville Borough to form Woodville District

Districts

From the 1970s onwards some local authorities created by a voluntary amalgamation of two or more component local authorities were termed Districts. These Districts were of a mixed rural/urban character but are not to be confused with the Districts created by the local government reorganisation of 1989.

Council Established Disestablished Area Notes
Hawera 1978 fl. 1986
Otorohanga 1979 1989 Previously called Otorohanga County
Queenstown-Lakes fl. 1986
Rangiora 1978 fl. 1986
Rotorua 1979 fl. 1986
Thames-Coromandel 1975 fl. 1986
Waimairi 1982 fl. 1986
Waimarino 1988 1989 Amalgamation of Raetihi Borough, Ohakune Borough and Waimarino County
Waipawa 1978 1989 Amalgamated with Waipukurau District to form Central Hawke's Bay District
Waipukurau 1977 1989 Amalgamated with Waipawa District to form Central Hawke's Bay District
Waitomo 1976 fl. 1986
Whakatane 1976 fl. 1986

Town districts

A town district, as created under the Town Boards Act of 1882 was a municipality intermediate in nature between a county town and a borough. In 1952, a dependent town district could be established on the petition of two thirds of the resident householders of any settlement of at least fifty households in an area of not more than two square miles (5.18 km2). To become an independent town district, a town district must have had a population of greater than 500.

Council Established Disestablished Area Notes
Bay 1905 1916 Amalgamated with Dunedin City
Bulls fl. 1952 2.74 km2
Cambridge 1882 1886 Elevated to borough
Carterton 1875 1887 Elevated to borough.
Dannevirke 1885 1892 Elevated to borough.
Edendale fl. 1952 fl. 1972 2.82 km2 Dependent Town District within Southland County
Eltham 1884 1901 Elevated to borough
Glen Eden 1921 fl. 1952 5.12 km2
Gordon 1890 Amalgamated with Gore borough
Grey 1886 1907 Amalgamated with Taieri County
Havelock fl. 1952 0.85 km2
Henderson 1922 1946 Elevated to borough
Helensville 1883 1947 Elevated to borough
Hikurangi 1908 fl. 1986 3.88 km2 Independent Town District within Whangarei County
Howick 1922 1952 Elevated to borough
Hunterville fl. 1952 fl. 1972 3.20 km2 Independent Town District within Rangitikei County
Huntly 1908 1931 Elevated to borough
Johnsonville fl. 1952 3.41 km2
Kaikohe 1927 1947 Elevated to borough
Kamo fl. 1952 3.44 km2
Kaponga fl. 1952 fl. 1972 2.26 km2 Dependent Town District within Eltham County
Kawakawa fl. 1952 fl. 1972 1.13 km2 Independent Town District within Bay of Islands County
Kawhia fl. 1952 1.90 km2
Kihikihi fl. 1952 fl. 1972 2.59 km2 Dependent Town District within Waipa County
Kohukohu fl. 1952 4.13 km2
Leamington 1905 1956 5.38 km2 Merged with Cambridge borough.
Leeston fl. 1952 1.58 km2
Linwood 28 October 1882 1893 Elevated to borough
Lumsden fl. 1952 5.12 km2
Manaia 1882 fl. 1986 2.06 km2 Independent Town District within Waimate West County
Mangaweka fl. 1952 3.86 km2
Manunui fl. 1952
Martinborough 1906 1928 Elevated to borough
Marton 1869 1879 Elevated to borough
Matamata 1917 1935 Elevated to borough
Mercer fl. 1952 4.05 km2
Moa 1885 1902 Elevated to borough and renamed Inglewood
Morrinsville 1908 1921 Elevated to borough
Mosgiel 1882 1884 Elevated to Borough
Mount Maunganui 1927 1945 Dependent on Tauranga County until 1937. Elevated to Borough 1945.
Nightcaps 1918 1967 1.15 km2
Normanby fl. 1952 1.05 km2
Ohaupo fl. 1952 fl. 1972 5.19 km2 Dependent Town District within Waipa County
Ohura fl. 1952 fl. 1972 3.30 km2 Independent Town District within Taumarunui County
Onerahi fl. 1952
Opotiki 1882 1911 Elevated to borough
Ormondville 1885 1944 Merged into Dannevirke County
Otautau fl. 1889 1978 3.86 km2 Independent Town District within Wallace County
Otorohanga fl. 1952 2.27 km2
Outram 1882 1961 3.59 km2 Amalgamated with Taieri County
Papatoetoe 28 March 1919 1946 Elevated to borough
Patutahi fl. 1952 fl. 1972 Dependent Town District within Cook County
Pleasant Point fl. 1952 2.95 km2
Raglan 1906 1938 Raglan Town Board started in 1878 and merged with local highways boards into Raglan County Council in 1889. It was re-inaugurated as Raglan Town Board in 1906 and continued until 1938, when the Board again merged into the County Council.
Rawene fl. 1952 1.84 km2
Russell fl. 1952 fl. 1972 4.31 km2 Dependent Town District within Bay of Islands County
Southbridge fl. 1952 2.15 km2
Sumner 1883 1891 Elevated to borough
Tahunanui 1920
Takaka fl. 1952 2.37 km2
Taradale fl. 1952 5.94 km2
Taupō 1946 fl. 1952 9.27 km2
Tawa Flat 1951 fl. 1952 2.91 km2
Te Karaka fl. 1952 3.16 km2
Te Kauwhata fl. 1952 5.22 km2
Te Puke 1913 1935 5.34 km2 Elevated to borough
Tinwald fl. 1952 6.17 km2
Tuakau 1914 fl. 1952 7.77 km2
Waiuku 1914 fl. 1952 5.18 km2
Warkworth fl. 1952 fl. 1972 Independent Town District within Rodney County
Waverley 1877 fl. 1986 1.96 km2 Independent Town District within Patea County
Woolston 13 September 1882 1893 Elevated to borough
Wyndham 1882 1977 2.75 km2 Independent Town District within Southland County

1989 reform of local government

By 1986, the number of territorial authorities and single-purpose authorities had grown to more than 850. In 1989 there was a major reform of local government in New Zealand. The numerous borough and county councils were amalgamated into larger districts, while the number of cities was reduced.

The lists above should include all local authorities that existed prior to 1989.

Post-1989 local government reform

Regions

13 regional councils were established through the passing of the Local Government Act 1987. Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council was disestablished in 1992, when its functions went to the unitary authorities Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough.

Auckland Regional Council was subsumed into the Auckland Council on 1 November 2010.

City councils

Many of the city councils resulting from the 1989 reforms continue in operation. Seven territorial authorities (Auckland City Council, Manukau City Council, Waitakere City Council, North Shore City Council, Papakura District Council, Rodney District Council and Franklin District Council) were amalgamated into the Auckland Council in 2010.

District councils

Most of the districts resulting from the 1989 reforms continue in operation. Banks Peninsula District is an exception; it was merged into Christchurch City Council in 2006.

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