# Wellington City Council

Wellington City Council is a territorial authority in New Zealand, governing the city of Wellington, the country's capital city and third-largest city by population, behind Auckland and Christchurch. It consists of the central historic town and certain additional areas within the Wellington metropolitan area, extending as far north as Linden and covering rural areas such as Mākara and Ohariu. The city adjoins Porirua in the north and Hutt City in the north-east. It is one of nine territorial authorities in the Wellington Region.
Wellington attained city status in 1886. The settlement had become the colonial capital and seat of government by 1865, replacing Auckland. Parliament officially sat in Wellington for the first time on 26 July 1865. During the last half of the nineteenth century, Wellington grew rapidly from 7,460 residents in 1867 to 49,344 by the end of the century.
The council represents a population of 215,300 as of June 2024 and consists of a mayor and fifteen councillors elected from six wards (Northern, Onslow-Western, Lambton, Eastern, Southern general wards and Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori ward). It administers public works, sanitation, land use and building consents, among other local services. The council has used the marketing slogan "Absolutely Positively Wellington" in an official capacity since the early 1990s.
On 22 October 2024 the New Zealand government appointed Lindsay McKenzie as a Crown Observer to the council after the Council was forced to revise its 2023–2024 Long Term Plan in response to a failed attempt to sell its airport shares. MP and former Wellington City councillor Tamatha Paul has accused the government's decision to appoint the Crown Observer as politically motivated.

## Council and committees

The mayor and all councillors are members of council. Following a review in 2021 by former Local Government New Zealand chief executive Peter Winder, the council adopted a new committee structure. All committees apart from Te Kaunihera o Pōneke Council and Unaunahi Ngaio Chief Executive Performance Review Committee include two mana whenua representatives (pouiwi), who are paid and have voting rights.
Committees and subcommittees of the Wellington City Council to April 2024 :
| Committee | Chair | Deputy Chair | Membership |
| Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Mayor Tory Whanau | Deputy Mayor Laurie Foon | Mayor and all councillors |
| Kōrau Tūāpapa Environment and Infrastructure Committee | Cr Tim Brown | Cr Rebecca Matthews | Mayor, all councillors, and both pouiwi |
| Environment and Infrastructure Hearings Panel | Cr Tim Brown | | Cr Free, Cr Randle, Cr Abdurahman, Cr Matthews, Cr Wi Neera |
| Kōrau Tōtōpū Annual Plan/Long-term Plan, Finance and Performance Committee | Cr Rebecca Matthews | Councillor John Apanowicz | Mayor, all councillors, and both pouiwi |
| Kōrau Mātinitini Social, Cultural and Economic Committee | Cr Teri O'Neill | Cr Nureddin Abdurahman | Mayor, all councillors, and both pouiwi |
| Social, Cultural, and Economic Hearings Panel | Cr Nureddin Abdurahman | | Cr O'Neill, Cr Apanowicz, Cr Chung, Cr Pannett, Cr Free, Cr Wi Neera |
| Kāwai Whakatipu Grants Subcommittee | Cr Nīkau Wi Neera | Cr Nicola Young | Mayor and deputy mayor, Cr Brown, Cr O'Neill, Pouiwi Holden Hohaia |
| Koata Hātepe Regulatory Processes Committee | Cr Sarah Free | Cr Ben McNulty | Mayor, Cr Abdurahman, Cr Calvert, Cr Chung, Cr Rogers, Pouiwi Liz Kelly |
| Unaunahi Māhirahira Audit and Risk Subcommittee | Bruce Robertson (external appointee) | Cr Tony Randle | Mayor, Cr Apanowicz, Cr Chung, Cr Matthews, Cr Pannett, Pouiwi Liz Kelly, Wendy Venter (external appointee) |
| Unaunahi Ngaio Chief Executive Performance Review Committee | Mayor Tory Whanau | Deputy Mayor Laurie Foon | Cr Matthews, Cr O'Neill, Cr Brown |
Wellington's local electoral wards were given Māori names in 2018, after consultation with mana whenua.

### Mayor

One mayor is elected at large from the entire Wellington City district.
| Photo | Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities |
| | Tory Whanau | Independent | 2022 | Ex-officio member of all committees and subcommittees |

### Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori ward

Te Whanganui a Tara is a Māori ward created by Wellington City Council in 2021. The 2022 election returned Nīkau Wi-Neera as its first-ever councillor.
| Photo | Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities |
| | Nīkau Wi-Neera | Greens | 2022 | Deputy Chair, Pītau Pūmanawa | Grants Subcommittee Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee |

### Motukairangi/Eastern Ward

Motukairangi/Eastern Ward returns three councillors to the Wellington City Council. Since 2022 the councillors are:
| Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities |
| Sarah Free | Independent | 2013 | Chair, Koata Hātepe | Regulatory Processes Committee Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee |
| Teri O'Neill | Labour | 2019 | Chair, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee Member, Unaunahi Ngaio | Chief Executive Performance Review Committee Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Pītau Pūmanawa | Grants Subcommittee |
| Tim Brown | Independent | 2022 | Deputy Chair, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee Member, Pītau Pūmanawa | Grants Subcommittee |

### Pukehīnau/Lambton Ward

Pukehīnau/Lambton Ward returns three councillors to the Wellington City Council. Since 2024 the councillors are:
| Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities |
| Iona Pannett | Independent | 2007 | Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee Member, Unaunahi Māhirahira | Audit and Risk Committee |
| Nicola Young | Independent | 2013 | Chair, Pītau Pūmanawa | Grants Subcommittee Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee |
| Geordie Rogers | Greens | 2024 | |

### Takapū/Northern Ward

Takapū/Northern Ward returns three councillors to the Wellington City Council. Since 2022 the councillors are:
| Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities |
| Ben McNulty | Labour | 2022 | Deputy Chair, Koata Hātepe | Regulatory Processes Committee Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee |
| Tony Randle | Independent | 2022 | Deputy Chair, Unaunahi Māhirahira | Audit and Risk Committee Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee |
| John Apanowicz | A Voice for Wellington | 2022 | Deputy Chair, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Pūroro Hātepe Regulatory Processes Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee Member, Unaunahi Māhirahira | Audit and Risk Committee |

### Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward

Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward returns three councillors to the Wellington City Council. Since 2022 the councillors are:
| Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities |
| Diane Calvert | Independent | 2016 | Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Koata Hātepe | Regulatory Processes Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee |
| Rebecca Matthews | Labour | 2019 | Chair, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Unaunahi Ngaio | Chief Executive Performance Review Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee Member, Pītau Pūmanawa | Grants Subcommittee |
| Ray Chung | Independent | 2022 | Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee Member, Unaunahi Māhirahira | Audit and Risk Committee |

### Paekawakawa/Southern Ward

Paekawakawa/Southern Ward is the only ward that returns two councillors to the Wellington City Council (all others returning one or three). Since 2022 the councillors are:
| Photo | Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities |
| | Laurie Foon | Greens | 2019 | Deputy Mayor Deputy Chair, Unaunahi Ngaio | Chief Executive Performance Review Committee Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee Member, Pītau Pūmanawa | Grants Subcommittee |
| | Nureddin Abdurahman | Labour | 2022 | Deputy Chair, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Koata Hātepe | Regulatory Processes Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee |

### Pouiwi

Two pouiwi (tribal representatives) were appointed in 2023 by the Council's Tākai Here partners, Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira. They have voting rights on Council committees, including committees of the whole, but not on the full Council. Since 2023 the pouiwi are:
| Name | Appointed by | Responsibilities |
| Holden Hohaia | Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika | Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Pītau Pūmanawa | Grants Subcommittee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee |
| Liz Kelly | Ngāti Toa Rangatira | Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee Member, Koata Hātepe | Regulatory Processes Committee Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee Member, Unaunahi Māhirahira | Audit and Risk Committee |

### Community boards

The council has created two local community boards under the provisions of Part 4 of the Local Government Act 2002, with members elected using a single transferable vote (STV) system or appointed by the council.
These are:
* Tawa Community Board, having six elected members and two appointed members, representing the northern suburbs of Tawa, Grenada North and Takapū Valley; and
* Mākara/Ōhāriu Community Board, having six elected members, representing the rural suburbs of Ohariu, Mākara and Mākara Beach.

## Civic symbols
### Coat of arms

The Wellington City Council first adopted a coat of arms in 1878. This coat of arms had the description:
   Quarterly 1st Azure out of a ducal Crown OR a demi-lion rampant Gules holding in the paws a forked pennon flowing to the sinister, charged with the cross of St. George the ends Gules (crest of the Duke of Wellington).
   2nd ARGENT. A galley with sails furled and oars and pennons SABLE (the commerce of the City).
   3rd GULES. A garb (a wheat or wheat sheaf) PROPER (the Agricultural interests).
   4th AZURE. A golden fleece PROPER cinctured GULES (the Pastoral interests).
   Crest Mural Crown or surmounted by a dolphin embowed AZURE (supremacy by naval position).
The Wellington City Corporation was granted an official coat of arms by the College of Arms in 1951, the blazon for which is:
Coat of arms of Wellington City Council :
* CrestOn a Mural Crown Argent a Dolphin Naiant Azure, Mantled Gules.
* EscutcheonQuarterly Gules and Azure, a Cross Or between; In the first quarter a Fleece Or; in the second quarter on Water barry wavy proper in base a Lymphad sail furled pennon and flags flying Argent; in the third quarter a Garb Or; in the fourth quarter five Plates in Saltire Argent.
* SupportersOn the dexter side a Lion gorged with a Collar and Chain reflexed over the back Or, and on the sinister side a Moa proper.
* MottoSuprema a Situ (Supreme by position)
* SymbolismThe shield is divided vertically and horizontally, quarter of which the first and fourth are red and the remaining pair are blue. A golden cross is placed over the entire shield centrally between these quarters. The top left quarter contains a golden fleece (usually depicted as a whole sheep with a band around its middle). The second quarter is depicted as a silver sailing ship (lymphad) with its sails furled as it would be in port but with its flags flying, placed on waves in their natural colour. The third quarter contains a golden wheat sheaf, and the fourth has five silver discs arranged in a saltire. The mural crown (a crown depicted as if made of stonewalling) is common as a crest in city coats of arms. It is coloured silver, and from its top comes a swimming dolphin. Around the crest is mantling in red. The supporters on either side of the shield are a golden heraldic lion with a chained collar around its neck to the left, and a moa in its natural colouring on the right (the terms "sinister" and "dexter" relate to the shield from the holder's point of view, not the viewer's, thus dexter is the viewer's left and sinister is the viewer's right). The base on which the supporters stand is normally not emblazoned but is left to the artist to decide. The Motto may be translated as "Supreme by position".

### Badge and Flag

Wellington City Council was also granted a badge by the College of Arms in 1963, with the heraldic description:
   A Roundel Azure thereon a Lymphad Or the sail argent charged with a Dolphin naiant Azure pennon and flags flying Argent each charged with a Cross Gules.
The flag of Wellington, adopted on 12 December 1962, incorporates the city's badge over a black cross on a gold field.

## Demographics

Wellington City had a population of 202,737 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 11,781 people (6.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 23,271 people (13.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 74,841 households. There were 98,823 males and 103,911 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female. The median age was 34.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 32,856 people (16.2%) aged under 15 years, 54,999 (27.1%) aged 15 to 29, 93,669 (46.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 21,213 (10.5%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 74.1% European/Pākehā, 8.6% Māori, 5.1% Pacific peoples, 18.3% Asian, and 4.5% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).
The proportion of people born overseas was 33.4%, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 53.2% had no religion, 31.4% were Christian, 3.7% were Hindu, 1.6% were Muslim, 1.7% were Buddhist and 3.3% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 74,922 (44.1%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 12,690 (7.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $41,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 96,453 (56.8%) people were employed full-time, 24,738 (14.6%) were part-time, and 7,719 (4.5%) were unemployed.
Individual wards :
| Name | Population | Households | Median age | Median income |
| Takapū Northern Ward | 47,796 | 16,467 | 35.9 years | $41,500 |
| Wharangi Onslow-Western Ward | 43,176 | 15,750 | 38.6 years | $51,800 |
| Pukehīnau Lambton Ward | 46,140 | 18,204 | 28.4 years | $37,500 |
| Motukairangi Eastern Ward | 37,965 | 14,199 | 37 years | $41,100 |
| Paekawakawa Southern Ward | 27,654 | 10,221 | 34 years | $38,700 |
| New Zealand | | | 37.4 years | $31,800 |

## Suburbs

Wellington city has 57 officially defined suburbs; one can group them by the wards used to elect the city council. Some areas, while officially forming part of a larger suburb (or several suburbs), are considered by some to be separate communities. The officially defined suburbs include:

### Takapū Northern Ward

* official: Churton Park; Glenside; Grenada North; Grenada Village; Horokiwi; Johnsonville; Newlands; Ohariu; Paparangi; Takapu Valley; Tawa; Woodridge
* informal: Greenacres; Linden; Redwood

### Wharangi Onslow-Western Ward

* official: Broadmeadows; Crofton Downs; Kaiwharawhara; Karori; Khandallah; Mākara; Mākara Beach; Ngaio; Ngauranga; Northland; Wadestown; Wilton.
* informal: Cashmere; Chartwell; Highland Park; Rangoon Heights; Te Kainga

### Pukehīnau Lambton Ward

* official: Aro Valley; Highbury; Kelburn; Mount Cook; Mount Victoria; Oriental Bay; Pipitea; Te Aro; Thorndon; Wellington
Within Lambton Ward, the council's tourism agency has designated three inner-city "quarters", as marketing subdivisions to promote international and domestic tourism. They are:
* Courtenay Quarter, centred around Courtenay Place
* Cuba Quarter, centred around Cuba Street
* Lambton Quarter, centred around Lambton Quay
* The Waterfront Quarter, centred around the waterfront

### Paekawakawa Southern Ward

* official: Berhampore; Brooklyn; Island Bay; Kingston; Mornington; Newtown; Ōwhiro Bay; Southgate; Vogeltown
* informal: Kowhai Park

### Motukairangi Eastern Ward

* official: Breaker Bay; Hataitai; Houghton Bay; Karaka Bays; Kilbirnie; Lyall Bay; Maupuia; Melrose; Miramar; Moa Point; Rongotai; Roseneath; Seatoun; Strathmore Park
* informal: Crawford; Seatoun Bays; Seatoun Heights; Miramar Heights; Strathmore Heights.

## Council-owned companies and enterprises

The Wellington City Council owns or directly operates several companies.
The council is a part-owner of Wellington Airport, and has two representatives on the airport's board. Mayor Andy Foster has been a member of the board since 2016, but has been criticised for poor attendance at board meetings.
The seven council-controlled organisations (CCOs) are
* Basin Reserve Trust
* Karori Sanctuary Trust (Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne)
* Wellington Cable Car Ltd
* Wellington Museums Trust (ExperienceWellington), which operates City Gallery Wellington and the Museum of Wellington City & Sea
* Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency Ltd (WREDA)
* Wellington Water manages all three water services for Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington city councils, and South Wairarapa District councils.
* Wellington Zoo Trust
The council has a similar interest in the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust.

## Sister-city relationships
### Sister cities

* Sydney, Australia
* Canberra, Australia
* Beijing, People's Republic of China
* Xiamen, Fujian, People's Republic of China
* Sakai, Osaka, Japan

### Historical sister cities

* Harrogate, England, United Kingdom
* Hania, Crete, Greece
* Çanakkale, Turkey

### Friendly cities

* Tianjin, People's Republic of China
Proposed/air marked future sister cities
* Ramallah, Palestine (region)

## History
### Amalgamations

The City of Wellington has subsumed many neighbouring boroughs including:
* Melrose (established 1888) in 1903
* Onslow (Khandallah/Ngaio) (established 1890) in 1919 (Wadestown had joined the city in 1906)
* Karori (established 1891) in 1920
* Miramar (established 1904) in 1921
* Johnsonville (a Town Board from 1908), in 1953
* Tawa (a Town district from 1951, then the Tawa Flat Borough Council from 1953) in 1989

### List of town clerks/chief executives

The city council was legally headed by a town clerk, who was in charge of the council administration and operations, later renamed as chief executive officer in 1991. Holders of the office since 1842 are:
| Name | Years |
| George White | 1842–1843 |
| Robert Suckling Cheesman | 1843 |
| William Bannister | 1863–1865 |
| J. B. Wallace | 1865–1867 |
| John Rigg | 1867–1871 |
| William Hester | 1872–1877 |
| Charles C. Graham | 1877–1883 |
| Thomas F. Martin | 1883–1889 |
| Joseph Page | 1889-1902 |
| John R. Palmer | 1902–1925 |
| Robert Tait Jr. (acting) | 1925–1926 |
| Edwin Philip Norman | 1926–1952 |
| Basil Peterson | 1952–1956 |
| Mervyn Sinclair Duckworth | 1956–1964 |
| Francis W. Pringle | 1964–1972 |
| Ian McCutcheon | 1972–1984 |
| David Niven | 1984–1991 |
| Doug Matheson (acting) | 1991 |
| Angela C. Griffin | 1991–1997 |
| Garry Poole | 1998–2013 |
| Kevin Lavery | 2013–2019 |
| Barbara McKerrow | 2019–present |

## Buildings

The Wellington City Council owns and until May 2019 operated from a complex on Wakefield Street, with various extensions each representing a distinctive architectural period. The complex incorporates the Wellington Town Hall which opened in 1904, with the most recent extension completed in 1991 alongside the Wellington Central Library.
The Wakefield Street complex has been cleared of back office functions, and since 28 May 2019 will be closed completely for repairs and earthquake strengthening. In the interim, most of the council's central office staff are located in commercial premises at 113 The Terrace, and the council's public service centre is at 12 Manners Street. Due to repairs also being needed to the Wellington Central Library, and Capital E, all of the civic buildings on Civic Square are closed, except for the City Gallery.