Taupō District Council


Taupō District Council is a territorial authority that administers the Taupō District in the Central North Island of New Zealand. The district stretches from the small town of Mangakino in the northwest to the Tongariro National Park in the south, and east into the Kaingaroa Forest, covering 6,970 km2. It had a population of
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Regional councils

The district falls within the jurisdiction of four different regional councils; however the vast majority of the district falls within the jurisdiction of Environment Waikato. The exceptions are the towns of Rangitaiki, which lies within the Bay of Plenty region, Taharua, which lies within the Hawke's Bay Region, and Te More, which lies within the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Taupō is unique in being the only district in New Zealand so divided; no other district is divided between/among more than two regions, and most are not divided at all.

Wards

The Taupō District has five wards – Taupō, Taupō East Rural, Turangi-Tongariro, Mangakino and the new Te Papamārearea Māori ward – and is represented by the Mayor and twelve councillors.

Taupō

The areas of Taupō and Kaingaroa are administered by the Taupō District Council.

Mangakino-Pouakani

The areas of Mangakino and Pouakani are administered by the Taupō District Council. The area is also represented by the Mangakino Pouakani Representation Group which has a total of six members including three Councillors.

Turangi-Tongariro

The areas of Tūrangi and Tongariro are administered by the Taupō District Council. The area is represented at Council by one district Councillor.
Following the October 2022 local election, the Tūrangi-Tongariro Community Board was replaced with ward representation from one councillor, and a district-wide Māori ward, Te Papamārearea, with two councillors.
The area will also be supported by a Mana Whakahono a Rohe, a partnership agreement between Taupō District Council and Ngāti Tūrangitukua, the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū which holds mana whenua over Tūrangi township. As part of the Mana Whakahono, an equal co-governance committee made up of both Ngāti Tūrangitukua and council appointees will be set up.
To ensure the wider Tongariro area is also fairly represented, a representative group will be established by council and delegated the powers and functions previously held by the TTCB for that area.

Council

The Taupō District has 12 councillors and a mayor.

Mayor

The office of mayor of Taupō was established in 1989 as part of the 1989 local government reforms. Since 2025, the mayor of Taupō has been John Funell.

Councillors

Taupō ward

  • Kevin Taylor
  • Duncan Campbell
  • Anna Park
  • Christine Rankin
  • Rachel Shepherd
  • Yvonne Westerman
  • John Williamson

Taupō East Rural ward

  • Kylie Leonard

Mangakino ward

  • Kirsty Trueman

Turangi-Tongariro ward

  • Sandra Greenslade

Te Papamārearea Māori ward

  • Karam Fletcher
  • Danny Loughlin