List of former territorial authorities in New Zealand
Post-provincial era ( 1876–1989 ) -- Borough councils
Table:
Council
Established
Disestablished
Area
Notes

Akaroa

Media related to Akaroa Borough Council office at Wikimedia Commons

Alexandra
1867 [5]
1989
1.92 km2 (470 acres) (1986)
Merged into Central Otago District

Arrowtown
10 May 1877 [6]
1989
170 acres (0.69 km2) (1877)
1.92 km2 (470 acres) (1986)
Merged into Queenstown-Lakes District

Ashburton
9 September 1878[7][8]

1989
12.27 km2 (4.74 sq mi) (1986)
Merged into Ashburton District

Auckland
1851[9]
1871

Declared a city.

Avenal
1876 [10]
1909

Amalgamated with Invercargill Borough

Avondale
1922 [11]
1927

Amalgamated with Auckland City

Balclutha
1870 [12]
1989
568 acres (2.30 km2) (1877)
5.26 km2 (1,300 acres) (1986)
Merged into Clutha District

Birkenhead
1888
1978 [13]

Proclaimed a city on 15 March 1978

Blenheim
1869 [14]
1989
17.68 km2 (6.83 sq mi) (1986)
Merged into Marlborough District

Bluff
1917 [15]
1989
8.67 km2
Merged into Invercargill city. See Campbelltown below.

Brunner
1887 [16]
1925

Amalgamated with Grey County

Cambridge
1886 [17]
1989
9.65 km2
Merged into Waipa District

Caversham
1877 [18]
1904
4.34 km2
Amalgamated with Dunedin city

Campbelltown
1878 [15]
1917
8.67 km2
Formally renamed Bluff (see above)

Carterton
1887 [19]
1989
39.81 km2
Grew into Carterton District

Cromwell
1866 [20]
1989
33.3 km2
Merged into Central Otago District

Dannevirke
1892 [21]
1989
5.62 km2
Merged into Tararua District

Dargaville
1908 [22]
1989
11.33 km2
Merged into Kaipara District

Devonport
1886 [23]
1989
5.79 km2
Merged into North Shore City

Using the accompanying table together with the supporting text below.

Give the answer to the question: Which river runs next to the former territorial authority of New Zealand established in 1887 and disestablished in 1925 ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Avoid adding external knowledge.

Alexandra ( Māori : Manuherikia or Areketanara ) is a town in the Central Otago district of the South Island of New Zealand . It is located on the banks of the Clutha River ( at the confluence of the Manuherikia River ) , on State Highway 8 , 188 kilometres ( 117 mi ) by road from Dunedin and 33 kilometres ( 21 mi ) south of Cromwell . At the time of the 2013 census , the permanent population was 4,800 , a decrease of 24 since 2006 . 27.1 per cent of the population ( higher than the national average ) was aged over 65 .
Central Otago District is local government district in New Zealand . It is administered by the Central Otago District Council and it is in the Otago region , the top tier of local government in New Zealand . The major towns in the district are Alexandra ( the seat of local government ) , Cromwell , Roxburgh , Clyde and Ranfurly . The Central Otago District is part of what is informally known as Central Otago . It was formed in 1989 from the merger of the former Vincent and Maniototo Counties . The current mayor is Tim Cadogan , who comfortably unseated the incumbent , Tony Lepper in the 2016 local elections . Mr Cadogan polled 5047 votes , more than double that polled by Mr Lepper , with 2521 votes .
Arrowtown is a historic gold mining town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand . Arrowtown is located on the banks of the Arrow River approximately 7.5 km from State Highway 6 . There is also road access directly to Queenstown via the Shotover Gorge and a third route via the picturesque Lake Hayes .
Queenstown-Lakes District , a local government district , is in the Otago Region of New Zealand . It is surrounded by the districts of Central Otago , Southland , Westland and Waitaki . Much of the area is often referred to as Queenstown because of the popularity of the resort town , but the district covers a much wider area , including the towns of Wanaka to the north-east , Glenorchy to the north-west and Kingston to the south . The district is sometimes called the Southern Lakes , as it contains Lake Wakatipu , Lake Wanaka and Lake Hāwea .
Ashburton ( Māori : Hakatere ) is a large town in the Canterbury Region , on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand . The town is the seat of the Ashburton District , a territorial authority encompassing the town and a number of small settlements within its surrounding rural area , roughly coterminous with the subregion of Mid Canterbury . It is 85 kilometres ( 53 mi ) south west of Christchurch and is sometimes regarded as a satellite town of Christchurch . Ashburton township has a population of 20,200 , with an additional 12,400 living in the wider district . The town is the 23rd largest urban area in New Zealand and the third-largest urban area in the Canterbury Region , after Christchurch and Timaru .
Ashburton ( Māori : Hakatere ) is a large town in the Canterbury Region , on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand . The town is the seat of the Ashburton District , a territorial authority encompassing the town and a number of small settlements within its surrounding rural area , roughly coterminous with the subregion of Mid Canterbury . It is 85 kilometres ( 53 mi ) south west of Christchurch and is sometimes regarded as a satellite town of Christchurch . Ashburton township has a population of 20,200 , with an additional 12,400 living in the wider district . The town is the 23rd largest urban area in New Zealand and the third-largest urban area in the Canterbury Region , after Christchurch and Timaru .
Auckland ( /ˈɔːklənd/ AWK-lənd ) ( Māori : Tāmaki Makaurau ) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand . The most populous urban area in the country , Auckland has an urban population of around 1,570,100 ( June 2018 ) . It is located in the Auckland Region - the area governed by Auckland Council - which includes outlying rural areas and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf , resulting in a total population of 1,618,400 . Auckland is a diverse , multicultural and cosmopolitan city , home to the largest Polynesian population in the world . The Māori-language name for Auckland is Tāmaki Makaurau , meaning Tāmaki desired by many , in reference to the desirability of its natural resources and geography . Auckland lies between the Hauraki Gulf of the Pacific Ocean to the east , the low Hunua Ranges to the south-east , the Manukau Harbour to the south-west , and the Waitakere Ranges and smaller ranges to the west and north-west . The surrounding hills are covered in rainforest and the landscape is dotted with dozens of dormant volcanic cones . The central part of the urban area occupies a narrow isthmus between the Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea and the Waitematā Harbour on the Pacific Ocean . Auckland is one of the few cities in the world to have a harbour on each of two separate major bodies of water . The isthmus on which Auckland resides was first settled around 1350 and was valued for its rich and fertile land . The Māori population in the area is estimated to have peaked at 20,000 before the arrival of Europeans . After a British colony was established in 1840 , William Hobson , then Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand , chose the area as his new capital .
Invercargill ( /ˌɪnvərˈkɑːrɡɪl/ , Māori : Waihōpai ) is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand , and one of the southernmost cities in the world . It is the commercial centre of the Southland region . The city lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff , which is the southernmost town in the South Island . It sits amid rich farmland that is bordered by large areas of conservation land and marine reserves , including Fiordland National Park covering the south-west corner of the South Island and the Catlins coastal region . Many streets in the city , especially in the centre and main shopping district , are named after rivers in Great Britain , mainly Scotland . These include the main streets Dee and Tay , as well as those named after the Tweed , Forth , Tyne , Esk , Don , Ness , Yarrow , Spey and Eye rivers . The 2013 census showed the population was 51,696 , up 2.7% on the 2006 census number .
Avondale is a suburb in the west of Auckland , New Zealand , located in the Whau ward , one of the thirteen administrative divisions for the Auckland Council . It was originally called Te Whau , which is the common name , of Māori origin , for Entelea arborescens , a native tree .
Auckland City was the part of Auckland urban area covering the isthmus and most of the islands of the Hauraki Gulf . The core of Auckland City was the Auckland CBD , a major financial and commercial centre , surrounded by many suburbs . It was formerly the name of a local authority district that was governed by Auckland City Council ; it lay within the wider Auckland Region , which was governed by Auckland Regional Council . Auckland City was disestablished as a local government district on 1 November 2010 , when Auckland City Council was amalgamated with other councils of the Auckland Region into the new Auckland Council . Auckland City was the most populous district in the country , with a population of 450,000 at 30 June 2010 . In 2009 , Auckland was rated the fourth-best place to live in the world , in human resources consultancy Mercer 's annual survey .
Balclutha ( Māori : Iwikatea ) is a town in Otago , lying towards the end of the Clutha River , on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand . It is about halfway between Dunedin and Invercargill on the Main South Line railway , State Highway 1 and the Southern Scenic Route . Balclutha has a population of 3,990 ( as of June 2018 ) , and is the largest town in South Otago . The Clutha District Council is based in Balclutha . The major service center for the fertile farming region around the lower reaches of the Clutha River , it is also the nearest large town to the Catlins , a scenic region of native forest , wildlife , and rugged coastline .
Clutha District is a local government district of southern New Zealand , with its headquarters in the Otago town of Balclutha . The Clutha District has a land area of 6,362.86 km² ( 2,456.71 sq mi ) and a 2006 census population of 16,839 usual residents . Clutha District occupies the majority of the geographical area known as South Otago .
Birkenhead is a suburb of Auckland , in northern New Zealand . It is located on the North Shore of the Waitemata Harbour , four kilometres northwest of the Auckland CBD . In November 2010 , the suburb was included into the North Shore ward , one of the thirteen administrative divisions of the newly-formed Auckland Council . Under the council , Birkenhead is part of the Kaipatiki Local Board Area . It is surrounded by the suburbs of Northcote to the east , Glenfield to the north and Birkdale , Chelsea and Chatswood to the west . The southern part of the suburb is known as Birkenhead Point and lies on a promontory between Chelsea Bay and Little Shoal Bay , one kilometre to the west of the northern approaches to the Auckland Harbour Bridge . The shopping area is known as the Birkenhead Town Centre with the term Highbury being used for the older shopping centre at the junction of Birkenhead Avenue and Mokoia Road .
Blenheim ( /ˈblɛnɪm/ BLEN-im ; Māori : Waiharakeke ) is the most populous town in the region of Marlborough , in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand . It has an urban population of 31,600 ( June 2018 ) . The surrounding Marlborough wine region is well known as the centre of the New Zealand wine industry . It enjoys one of New Zealand 's sunniest climates , with warm , relatively dry summers and cool , crisp winters . Blenheim is named after the Battle of Blenheim ( 1704 ) , where troops led by John Churchill , 1st Duke of Marlborough defeated a combined French and Bavarian force . The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of flax stream for Waiharakeke .
The Marlborough Region ( Māori : Te Tauihu-o-te-waka , or Tauihu ) , commonly known simply as Marlborough , is one of the regions of New Zealand , located in the northeast of the South Island . Marlborough is a unitary authority , both a region and a district . Marlborough District Council is based at Blenheim , the largest town . The region has a population of 48,800 ( June 2018 ) . Marlborough is known for its dry climate , the Marlborough Sounds , and Sauvignon blanc wine . It takes its name from the earlier Marlborough Province , which was named after His Grace General The 1st Duke of Marlborough , an English general and statesman .
Bluff ( Māori : Motupōhue ) , previously known as Campbelltown and often referred to as The Bluff , is a town and seaport in the Southland region , on the southern coast of the South Island of New Zealand . It is the southernmost town in mainland New Zealand and , despite Slope Point and Stewart Island being further south , Bluff is colloquially used to refer to the southern extremity of the country ( particularly in the phrase from Cape Reinga to The Bluff ) . According to the 2006 census , the resident population was 1,850 , a decrease of 85 since 2001 . The Bluff area was one of the earliest areas of New Zealand where a European presence became established . The first ship known to have entered the harbour was the Perseverance in 1813 , in search of flax trading possibilities , with the first European settlers arriving in 1823 or 1824 . This is the foundation for the claim that Bluff is the oldest permanent European settlement in the country . However , the missionary settlement at Kerikeri was both earlier and larger . The town was officially called Campbelltown in 1856 , became a borough in 1878 , and was renamed Bluff in 1917 .
Brunner is a town in the northwest of New Zealand 's South Island . It is 12 kilometres ( 7 mi ) east of Greymouth , on the south bank of the Grey River . It is on the Midland Line railway near its junction with the Stillwater-Westport Line ( SWL ) in neighbouring Stillwater . Passenger trains ceased running along the SWL to Reefton and Westport in 1967 , but the TranzAlpine runs the length of the Midland Line from Christchurch to Greymouth and it continues to stop in Brunner . Historically connected with coal mining , the town was the site of a major disaster in 1896 , when an explosion killed 65 miners in the Brunner Mine . Other important industries in the town have included forestry . The population was 1,144 in the 1956 census but is very small now . The town , formerly called Brunnerton , was named after the explorer Thomas Brunner , who discovered coal there .
Grey County was one of the counties of New Zealand in the South Island . During the period 1853 to 1873 , the area that would become Grey County was administered as parts of Nelson Province and Canterbury Province . From 1873 to 1876 , the portions that had been administered by Canterbury Province were transferred to the newly created Westland Province . The overall area covered rural land and urban settlements , though the administrative authority for the urban area of Greymouth was transferred from Canterbury Province to the Greymouth Borough Council in 1868 . The reason that the area that would become Grey County went across a provincial boundary was that the boundary had been set as a straight line from the head of the Hurunui River to Lake Brunner at a time when the area was virtually uninhabited , but the West Coast Gold Rush then straddled that boundary . In 1866 , there was a failed proposal for portions of Canterbury Province , including the urban area of Greymouth and the rural area south to the Taramakau River , be annexed and solely administered by Nelson Province . With the Abolition of Provinces Act 1876 , Grey County was created , taking over administration of its area in January 1877 . The southern boundary of Grey County was the Taramakau River , and the maintenance of the bridge over the river was shared with Westland County . Grey County extended for 64 kilometres ( 40 mi ) along the coast , and went inland as far as the great divide in the Southern Alps . The head of the local government administration was an elected chairman , with the county council 's administrative headquarters located in Greymouth Borough . Grey County existed until the 1989 local government reforms , when the Grey District was formed through the amalgamation of the administrative areas of Greymouth Borough and Grey County .
Cambridge ( Māori : Kemureti ) is a town in the Waipa District of the Waikato Region of the North Island of New Zealand . Situated 24 kilometres ( 15 mi ) southeast of Hamilton , on the banks of the Waikato River , Cambridge is known as The Town of Trees & Champions . The town has a population of 19,150 , making it the largest town in the Waipa District , and third largest urban area in the Waikato ( after Hamilton and Taupo ) . Cambridge was a finalist in the 2017 and 2019 New Zealand 's Most Beautiful Large Town awards , run by Keep New Zealand Beautiful . It was awarded the title New Zealand 's Most Beautiful Large Town in October 2019 .
Waipa District is a municipality in the Waikato region of New Zealand that is administered by the Waipa District Council . Its most populous town is Cambridge . The seat of the council is at the second most populous town , Te Awamutu . The district is south and south-east of the city of Hamilton . It has five wards : Te Awamutu , Cambridge , Pirongia , Maungatautari and Kakepuku .
Caversham /ˈkævərʃəm/ is one of the older suburbs of the city of Dunedin , in New Zealand 's South Island . It is sited at the western edge of the city 's central plain at the mouth of the steep Caversham Valley , which rises to the saddle of Lookout Point . Major road and rail routes south lie nearby ; the South Island Main Trunk railway runs through the suburb , and a bypass skirts its main retail area , connecting Dunedin 's one-way street system with the Dunedin Southern Motorway . The suburb is linked by several bus routes to its neighbouring suburbs and central Dunedin . The suburb was founded by wealthy pioneer William Henry Valpy , and its name reflects his family connections with the town of Reading , in the English county of Berkshire . Caversham grew rapidly during the Central Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s because of its location on routes south to the Otago hinterland . By the end of the 19th century , Caversham was heavily industrialised , and its population included many skilled or semi-skilled tradespeople . This , combined with the community 's strong Protestant roots , led to the area 's generally left-leaning political stance . Caversham 's early history has been the subject of the Caversham Project , a major historical and archaeological study by the University of Otago . Caversham was a separate borough until 1904 , when it was amalgamated with Dunedin city . It is currently administered as part of the city 's South Dunedin ward . At a national level , it is part of the Dunedin South electorate .
Dunedin ( /dʌˈniːdɪn/ ( listen ) duh-NEE-din ; Māori : Ōtepoti ) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand ( after Christchurch ) , and the principal city of the Otago region . Its name comes from Dùn Èideann , the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh , the capital of Scotland . The urban area of Dunedin lies on the central-eastern coast of Otago , surrounding the head of Otago Harbour , and the harbour and hills around Dunedin are the remnants of an extinct volcano . The city suburbs extend out into the surrounding valleys and hills , onto the isthmus of the Otago Peninsula , and along the shores of the Otago Harbour and the Pacific Ocean . Dunedin was the largest New Zealand city by territorial land area until superseded by Auckland with the formation of the Auckland Council in November 2010 . Archaeological evidence points to lengthy occupation of the area by Māori prior to the arrival of Europeans . The province and region of Otago takes its name from the Ngai Tahu village of Otakou at the mouth of the harbour , which became a whaling station in the 1830s . In 1848 a Scottish settlement was established by the Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland . Between 1855 and 1900 many thousands of Scots emigrated to the incorporated city . Dunedin became wealthy during the Central Otago Gold Rush , beginning in the 1860s . In the mid-1860s , and between 1878 and 1881 , it was New Zealand 's largest urban area . The city population at 5 March 2013 was 120,246 .
Carterton ( Māori : Taratahi ) is a small town in the Wellington Region of New Zealand and the seat of the Carterton District ( a territorial authority or local government district ) . It lies in a farming area of the Wairarapa in New Zealand 's North Island . It is located 14 kilometres ( 8.7 mi ) southwest of Masterton and 80 kilometres ( 50 mi ) northeast of Wellington . The town has a population of 5,320 ( June 2018 ) , out of a total district population of 9,480 . Carterton was founded in 1857 . Originally known as Three Mile Bush , it served as housing for workers building the road between Wellington and Masterton . It was later renamed after Charles Carter , who was in charge of the building of the Black Bridge over the Waiohine River south of the town . The town describes itself as New Zealand 's daffodil capital , holding a Daffodil Festival each year on the second Sunday in September , with the main event taking place at Middle Run along Gladstone Road .
Carterton ( Māori : Taratahi ) is a small town in the Wellington Region of New Zealand and the seat of the Carterton District ( a territorial authority or local government district ) . It lies in a farming area of the Wairarapa in New Zealand 's North Island . It is located 14 kilometres ( 8.7 mi ) southwest of Masterton and 80 kilometres ( 50 mi ) northeast of Wellington . The town has a population of 5,320 ( June 2018 ) , out of a total district population of 9,480 . Carterton was founded in 1857 . Originally known as Three Mile Bush , it served as housing for workers building the road between Wellington and Masterton . It was later renamed after Charles Carter , who was in charge of the building of the Black Bridge over the Waiohine River south of the town . The town describes itself as New Zealand 's daffodil capital , holding a Daffodil Festival each year on the second Sunday in September , with the main event taking place at Middle Run along Gladstone Road .
Cromwell is a town in Central Otago in the Otago region of New Zealand . Cromwell is between State Highway 6 ( linking to Wanaka , 50 km north , and Queenstown , 60 km west ) and State Highway 8 leading to the Lindis Pass , 75 km northeast , and Alexandra , 33 km south . The road to Alexandra winds through the Cromwell Gorge . A point near Cromwell lies 119 kilometres from the sea , the farthest from the sea anywhere in New Zealand . A prominent feature surrounding much of the town is the man-made Lake Dunstan . Cromwell also has the newly constructed Highlands Motorsport Park . Nearby settlements are at Bannockburn , Lowburn , Tarras , and Ripponvale . Cromwell is also the home of the Cromwell Chafer Beetle ( Prodontria lewisi ) . The 45th parallel south runs just North of the township .
Dannevirke ( lit . work of the Danes , a reference to Danevirke ; Māori : Taniwaka or Tamaki Nui a Rua , the area where the town is ) , is a rural service town in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of the North Island , New Zealand . It is the major town of the administrative of the Tararua District , the easternmost of the districts of which the Horizons Regional Council has responsibilities . The surrounding area , a catchment and source of the Manawatu River ( approximately 20 Min drive north of town ) has developed into dairy , beef cattle and sheep farming , which now provides the major income for the town 's population of 6,000 .
The Tararua District is an area near the south-east corner of New Zealand 's North Island that is administered by the Tararua District Council . It has a population of 18,500 ( June 2018 ) , and an area of 4,360.56 km² . The Tararua District Council was created by the amalgamation of the Dannevirke Borough , Eketahuna County Council , Pahiatua Borough Council , Pahiatua County Council and Woodville District Council in the 1989 local government reforms . The district 's northwest boundary runs along the top of the Ruahine Range ; its south-east boundary is the Pacific Ocean . The catchment of the Manawatu River generally defines the north and south extremities . The catchment is also the reason the majority of the district is in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region , although traditionally many of the people of the district regard themselves as living in either Hawke 's Bay ( in the north ) or Wairarapa ( in the south ) .
Dargaville ( Māori : Takiwira ) is a town in the North Island of New Zealand . It is situated on the bank of the Northern Wairoa River in the Northland region . The town is located 55 kilometres southwest of Whangarei . The population was 4,251 at the 2013 Census , a decrease of 204 since 2006 and 282 from 2001 . It is noted for the high proportion of residents of Croatian descent . The area around it is one of the chief regions in the country for cultivating kumara ( sweet potato ) and so Dargaville is known by many locals as the Kumara Capital of New Zealand .
The Kaipara District is located in the Northland Region in northern New Zealand .
Devonport is a harbourside suburb of Auckland , New Zealand . It is located on the North Shore , at the southern end of a peninsula that runs southeast from near Lake Pupuke in Takapuna , forming the northern side of the Waitematā Harbour . East of Devonport lies North Head , the northern promontory guarding the mouth of the harbour . The population of Devonport and the adjoining suburb of Cheltenham was 5,340 in the 2013 census , an increase of 3 since 2006 . With the additional suburbs of Stanley Bay , Vauxhall and Narrow Neck , the 2006 population was 11,142 . The suburb hosts the Devonport Naval Base of the Royal New Zealand Navy , the main facility for the country 's naval vessels , but is best known for its harbourside dining and drinking establishments and its heritage charm . Devonport has been compared to Sausalito , California due to its setting and scenery .
The North Shore is part of the urban area of Auckland , New Zealand , located to the north of the Waitematā Harbour .