List of former territorial authorities in New Zealand


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.
ProvinceEstablishedDisestablishedNotes
Auckland18531876
Canterbury18531876
Hawke's Bay18581876Formerly part of Wellington Province
Marlborough18591876Formerly part of Nelson Province
Nelson18531876
New Leinster18411846New Zealand Constitution Act 1846
New Munster18411853New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
New Plymouth18531876Renamed "Taranaki" in 1859
New Ulster18411853New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
Otago18531876
Southland18611870Originally part of, and later reunited with, Otago Province
Wellington18531876
Westland18731876Independent 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 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.

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.
CouncilEstablishedDisestablishedAreaNotes
Birkenhead19781989Merged into North Shore City
East Coast Bays19751989Merged into North Shore City
Gisborne1989Merged into Gisborne District
Hastings1989Merged into Hastings District
Mount Albert City19781989Merged into Auckland City
New Plymouth1989Merged into New Plymouth District
Papakura19751989Merged into Papakura District
Papatoetoe19651989Merged into Manukau City
Rotorua19621979Merged into Rotorua District
Takapuna19611989Merged into North Shore City
Tamaki19861989Merged into Auckland City
Timaru1989Merged into Timaru District
Waitemata City19741989Merged into Waitakere City
Wanganui1989Merged into Wanganui District
Whangarei1989Merged 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.
CountyEstablishedDisestablishedAreaHeadquartersNotes
Akaroa County18761989440.48 km2DuvauchelleMerged into Banks Peninsula District
Akitio Countyfl. 1911, 1961Pongaroa
Amuri1876198911,000 km2CulverdenMerged into Hurunui District
Ashburton187619896174 km2Ashburton
Ashley18761977Rangiora until 1968 then BalcairnAmalgamated with Waipara County to form Hurunui County.
Awakino County1922Amalgamated with Waitomo to form Otorohanga County
Awatere Countyfl. 19521976Merged into Marlborough County
Bay of Islands County187619892132.5 km2Kawakawa
Bruce187619891347.4 km2MiltonMerged into Clutha District
Buller1876198915,000 km2Westport
Castle Point Countyfl. 1945Tainui
Chatham Islands County19011989963 km2Waitangi
Cheviot County18761989847.28 km2CheviotMerged into Hurunui District
Clifton County188519891175.9 km2WaitaraMerged into New Plymouth District.
Clutha County187619892683.2 km2BalcluthaMerged into Clutha District
Collingwood County18761956Amalgamated with Takaka County to form Golden Bay County.
Cook187619892729.4 km2GisborneMerged into Gisborne District
Coromandel18761975Amalgamated with Thames to form Thames-Coromandel District
Dannevirke County190719892217.8 km2DannevirkeMerged into Tararua District
East Taupo County1876
Eden County18761940Amalgamated with Auckland City
Egmont19021989621.86 km2OpunakeMerged into South Taranaki District
Eketahuna County189919898.29 km2EketahunaMerged into Tararua District
Ellesmere191019891200.4 km2Leeston
Eltham County190619891388.8 km2ElthamMerged into South Taranaki District
Eyre19121989457.8 km2Kaiapoi in 1952, later EyretonMerged into Waimakariri District
Featherston190219892471.9 km2Martinborough
Fiord County18761981 km2Amalgamated with Wallace County in 1981, at which time it was "the only one of 105 counties where the Counties Act is not wholly in force"
Franklin191219891471.7 km2PukekoheMerged into Franklin District
Geraldine1876 km2Amalgamated with Levels County to form Strathallan County
Golden Bay County195619892661 km2Takaka
Great Barrier Island County191319892.85 km2
Grey187619894091 km2Greymouth
Halswell County19101968HalswellAmalgamated with Paparua County
Hauraki Plains County19201989601.1 km2Ngatea
Hawera County km2
Hawke's Bay County187619894828 km2Napier
Heathcote1910198931.09 km2Merged into Christchurch City
Hobson187619891929.5 km2DargavilleMerged into Kaipara District
Hokianga County187619891588 km2Rawene
Horowhenua County188419891422 km2LevinMerged into Horowhenua District
Hurunui197719893640 km2AmberleyMerged into Hurunui District
Hutt County187619896690 km2Initially 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 Kapiti Coast District.
Inangahua County187619892440.8 km2Reefton
Inglewood County19201986535.22 km2InglewoodMerged into Inglewood District 1986 Merged into New Plymouth District 1989
Kaikoura County187619892347.5 km2Kaikoura
Kairanga County19011989466.2 km2Palmerston North
Kaitiekefl. 1952RaurimuAmalgamated with Taumarunui County
Kawhia County19051956KawhiaMerged with Otorohanga District Council
Kiwitea County18931989930.2 km2KimboltonMerged into Manawatu District
Kowai County19121968BalcairnAmalgamated with Ashley County
Lake1876198610000 km2QueenstownMerged with Queenstown Borough to form Queenstown-Lakes District
Levels18941974 km2Amalgamated with Geraldine County to form Strathallan County
MacKenzie County188319897386.6 km2Fairlie
Makara County19081961Formed from the Makara Riding of Hutt County. Remnant amalgamated with Hutt County when Porirua Borough established.
Malvern County191219894973 km2Darfield
Manawatu County18761989686.6 km2SansonMerged into Manawatu District
Mangonui County187619892487 km2Kaitaia
Maniototo County187619893471 km2RanfurlyBecame part of Central Otago District
Manukau County1876 km2
Marlborough County1876198910478 km2BlenheimMerged with Blenheim Borough and Picton Borough Marlborough District
Masterton County190019892410 km2MastertonMerged with Masterton Borough to form Masterton District
Matakaoafl. 1952Te Araroa
Matamata Countyfl. 1952Tirau
Mauriceville County km2
Mount Herbert19021989171.01 km2LytteltonMerged into Banks Peninsula District
Ohinemuri County18851989624.45 km2Paeroa
Ohura Countyfl. 1952OhuraAmalgamated with Taumarunui County
Opotiki County189919893474.65 km2Opotiki
Oroua County19031989492.3 km2FeildingMerged into Manawatu District
Otamatea188719891090.85 km2PaparoaMerged into Kaipara District
Oxford19121989823.96 km2Oxford
Pahiatua County18881989736.3 km2Pahiatua
Paparua County19121989448.18 km2
Patangata County km2
Patea County187619891531 km2PateaMerged into South Taranaki District
Peninsula County18771968 km2More or less inactive until reconstituted in 1926. Amalgamated with Dunedin City in 1967.
Piako County187619891171 km2Te ArohaMerged into Matamata-Piako District
Pohangina County18941989671 km2AshhurstMerged into Manawatu District and Palmerston North City
Raglan County187619892412.3 km2NgāruawāhiaMerged into Waikato District
Rangiora County19121986RangioraAmalgamated with Rangiora borough to form Rangiora District.
Rangitikei County187619894490 km2Marton
Rodney County1876198923.34 km2OrewaPart merged into Kaipara District
Rotorua County19792615 km2RotoruaBecame Rotorua District
Selwyn County18761910subdivided into ten smaller counties.
Silverpeaks County197719893289 km2DunedinFormed in 1977 by the merger of Taieri County and Waikouaiti County.
Sounds County1876Merged into Marlborough District 1989. A Sounds County Council was never established
Southland County187619899590 km2InvercargillAmalgamated with three other local authorities in 1989 to form Southland District.
Springs19101989Lincoln
Stewart Island County187619891750 km2Halfmoon BayAmalgamated with three other local authorities in 1989 to form Southland District.
Stratford County189019892163.56 km2Stratford
Strathallan County197419892571.8 km2Timaru
Taieri County18771977OutramAmalgamated with Waikouaiti County to form Silverpeaks County.
Takaka County1956TakakaAmalgamated with Collingwood County to form Golden Bay County.
Taranaki18761989588.17 km2New Plymouth
Taumarunui County192119894895 km2Taumarunui
Taupo County195419897282 km2Taupo
Tauranga County187619891829.3 km2Tauranga
Tawera County
Thames18761975ThamesAmalgamated with Coromandel County to form Thames/Coromandel District
Tuapeka County187619893586 km2Lawrence
Uawa County19181964Tolaga BaySeparated from Cook County 10 December 1918. Amalgamated with Cook County 1 April 1964.
Vincent187619897553 km2ClydeBecame part of Central Otago District
Waiapu County189019892817.9 km2Te Puia Springs
Waiheke County19701989155.32 km2Ostend
Waihemo County18821989872.83 km2PalmerstonMerged into Waitaki District
Waikato County187619891651 km2HamiltonMerged into Waikato District
Waikohu County190819892646.96 km2Te Karaka
Waikouaiti County18771977 km2Amalgamated with Taieri County to form Silverpeaks County.
Waimairi County1982Redesignated Waimairi District
Waimarino County190219882249 km2RaetihiAmalgamated with Raetihi Borough and Ohakune Borough to form Waimarino District
Waimate County187619893585 km2Waimate
Waimate West19081989215.05 km2Manaia
Waimea187619897547 km2Richmond
Waipa County187619891101 km2Te Awamutu
Waipara County19091977WaikariAmalgamated with Ashley County to form Hurunui County.
Waipawa County1876Waipawa
Waipukurau CountyWaipukurau
Wairarapa East County1876
Wairarapa South County187719891140 km2CartertonMerged with Carterton Borough toform Carterton District
Wairarapa West County1876
Wairewa19101989440.5 km2Little River
Wairoa County187619894096.5 km2Wairoa
Waitaki County187619896192.7 km2OamaruCreated in 1876 but first Council did not meet until 1877
Waitemata1876
Waitomo County
Waitotara County188419891205.5 km2Wanganui
Wallace1876198917520 km2Riverton to 1898, thereafter OtautauAmalgamated with three other local authorities in 1989 to form Southland District.
Wanganui County187619891191 km2Wanganui
Weber County km2Dannevirke
Wellington County?? km2?See Hutt County or Makara County for counties near Wellington.
West Taupo County1876 km2
Westland County1876198911000 km2Hokitika
Whakatane County1876 km2Whakatane
Whangamomona County km2
Whangarei County187619892681.8 km2KamoPart merged into Kaipara District
Whangaroa County18761989621.6 km2KaeoMerged into Far North District
Woodville County1989404.2 km2WoodvilleMerged into Tararua 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.
CouncilEstablishedDisestablishedAreaNotes
Hawera1978fl. 1986
Otorohanga19791989Previously called Otorohanga County
Queenstown-Lakesfl. 1986
Rangiora1978fl. 1986
Rotorua1979fl. 1986
Thames-Coromandel1975fl. 1986
Waimairi1982fl. 1986
Waimarino19881989Amalgamation of Raetihi Borough, Ohakune Borough and Waimarino County
Waipawa1978fl. 1986
Waipukurau1977fl. 1986
Waitomo1976fl. 1986
Whakatane1976fl. 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. To become an independent town district, a town district must have had a population of greater than 500.
CouncilEstablishedDisestablishedAreaNotes
Bay19051916Amalgamated with Dunedin City
Bullsfl. 19522.74 km2
Cambridge18821886Elevated to borough
Carterton18751887Elevated to borough.
Dannevirke18851892Elevated to borough.
Edendalefl. 1952fl. 19722.82 km2Dependent Town District within Southland County
Eltham18841901Elevated to borough
Glen Eden1921fl. 19525.12 km2
Gordon1890Amalgamated with Gore borough
Grey18861907Amalgamated with Taieri County
Havelockfl. 19520.85 km2
Henderson19221946Elevated to borough
Helensville18831947Elevated to borough
Hikurangi1908fl. 19863.88 km2Independent Town District within Whangarei County
Howick19221952Elevated to borough
Huntervillefl. 1952fl. 19723.20 km2Independent Town District within Rangitikei County
Huntly19081931Elevated to borough
Johnsonvillefl. 19523.41 km2
Kaikohe19271947Elevated to borough
Kamofl. 19523.44 km2
Kapongafl. 1952fl. 19722.26 km2Dependent Town District within Eltham County
Kawakawafl. 1952fl. 19721.13 km2Independent Town District within Bay of Islands County
Kawhiafl. 19521.90 km2
Kihikihifl. 1952fl. 19722.59 km2Dependent Town District within Waipa County
Kohukohufl. 19524.13 km2
Leamington190519565.38 km2Merged with Cambridge borough.
Leestonfl. 19521.58 km2
Linwood28 October 18821893Elevated to borough
Lumsdenfl. 19525.12 km2
Manaia1882fl. 19862.06 km2Independent Town District within Waimate West County
Mangawekafl. 19523.86 km2
Manunuifl. 1952
Martinborough19061928Elevated to borough
Marton18691879Elevated to borough
Matamata19171935Elevated to borough
Mercerfl. 19524.05 km2
Moa18851902Elevated to borough and renamed Inglewood
Morrinsville19081921Elevated to borough
Mosgiel18821884Elevated to Borough
Mount Maunganui19271945Dependent on Tauranga County until 1937. Elevated to Borough 1945.
Nightcaps191819671.15 km2
Normanbyfl. 19521.05 km2
Ohaupofl. 1952fl. 19725.19 km2Dependent Town District within Waipa County
Ohurafl. 1952fl. 19723.30 km2Independent Town District within Taumarunui County
Onerahifl. 1952
Opotiki18821911Elevated to borough
Otautaufl. 188919783.86 km2Independent Town District within Wallace County
Otorohangafl. 19522.27 km2
Outram188219613.59 km2Amalgamated with Taieri County
Patutahifl. 1952fl. 1972Dependent Town District within Cook County
Pleasant Pointfl. 19522.95 km2
Rawenefl. 19521.84 km2
Russellfl. 1952fl. 19724.31 km2Dependent Town District within Bay of Islands County
Southbridgefl. 19522.15 km2
Sumner18831891Elevated to borough
Tahunanui1920
Takakafl. 19522.37 km2
Taradalefl. 19525.94 km2
Taupo1946fl. 19529.27 km2
Tawa Flat1951fl. 19522.91 km2
Te Karakafl. 19523.16 km2
Te Kauwhatafl. 19525.22 km2
Te Puke191319355.34 km2Elevated to borough
Tinwaldfl. 19526.17 km2
Tuakau1914fl. 19527.77 km2
Waiuku1914fl. 19525.18 km2
Warkworthfl. 1952fl. 1972Independent Town District within Rodney County
Waverley1877fl. 19861.96 km2Independent Town District within Patea County
Woolston13 September 18821893Elevated to borough
Wyndham188219772.75 km2Independent 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 which 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 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.