Role of Local Government

Councils now comprise:

  • 12 regional councils
  • 16 city councils
  • 57 district councils (including the Chatham Islands and four unitary councils which have
    regional functions).

The functions of regional councils are:

  • resource management (quality of water, soil, coastal planning etc)
  • biosecurity control of regional plant and animal pests
  • river management, flood control and mitigation of erosion
  • regional land transport planning and contracting of passenger services
  • civil defence (natural disasters, marine oil spill).

The functions of territorial councils (district and city councils) are:

  • community well-being and development
  • environmental health and safety (including building control, civil defence, and environmental health matters)
  • infrastructure (roading and transport, sewerage, water/stormwater)
  • recreation and culture
  • resource management including land use planning and development control.

Council responsibilities

Councils are required to make decisions and set directions for promoting the social, cultural, environmental and economic well-being of their communities.  They contribute to the good governance of their communities.

A council must:

  • provide directly or on behalf of central government, adequate, equitable and appropriate services and facilities for the community
  • ensure that the services provided are managed efficiently and effectively
  • exercise community leadership
  • exercise its functions in a manner that is consistent with and actively promotes the principle of cultural diversity
  • manage protect , develop, restore, enhance and conserve the environment
  • account for and manage assets for which it is responsible
  • facilitate involvement of councilors, members of the public, users of facilities and services and council staff in the development, improvement and co-ordination of local government
  • raise funds for local purposes by way of rates, charges and fees and investments, loans and grants
  • keep the local community informed about its activities
  • ensure that in the exercise of its regulatory functions it acts without bias
  • act as a responsible employer.


Last updated: September 2008