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.
The council represents a population of as of and consists of a mayor and fifteen councillors elected from six wards. 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.
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Composition

Council

The mayor and all councillors are members of council.

Mayor

One mayor is elected at large from the entire Wellington City district.
PhotoNameAffiliation First electedResponsibilities
Andrew LittleLabour2025Ex-officio member of all committees and subcommittees; Chair of Chief Executive Performance Review Committee

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. Wi-Neera retired from the seat at the 2025 election, and was replaced by Labour's Matthew Reweti.
PhotoNameAffiliation First electedResponsibilities
Matthew RewetiLabour2025Deputy Chair of Economic Growth and Development; member of Regulatory Processes Committee; member of Audit and Risk Committee

Motukairangi/Eastern ward

Motukairangi/Eastern ward returns three councillors to the Wellington City Council. Since 2025 the councillors are:
PhotoNameAffiliation First electedResponsibilities
Karl TiefenbacherIndependent2025Chair of Economic Growth and Development; member of Regulatory Processes Committee; member of Chief Executive Performance Review Committee
Sam O'BrienLabour2025Deputy Chair of Council Planning and Finance; member of Revenue and Financial Value Review
Jonny OsborneGreen2025Member of CCO Review and Appointments; member of Grants Subcommittee; member of Audit and Risk Committee

Pukehīnau/Lambton ward

Pukehīnau/Lambton ward returns three councillors to the Wellington City Council. Since 2025 the councillors are:
PhotoNameAffiliation First electedResponsibilities
Geordie RogersGreens2024Chair of Regulatory Processes Committee
Afnan Al-RubayeeLabour2025Deputy Chair of Social, Cultural and Environment; member of CCO Review and Appointments; Deputy Chair of Grants Subcommittee
Nicola YoungIndependent2013Member of Economic Growth and Development; Chair of Grants Subcommittee

Takapū/Northern ward

Takapū/Northern ward returns three councillors to the Wellington City Council. Since 2025 the councillors are:
PhotoNameAffiliation First electedResponsibilities
Ben McNultyLabour2022Deputy mayor; Chair of Revenue and Financial Value Review; member of Economic Growth and Development; Deputy Chair of Chief Executive Performance Review Committee
Tony RandleIndependent2022Member of Revenue and Financial Value Review; Deputy Chair of CCO Review and Appointments
Andrea ComptonIndependent2025Deputy Chair of City Strategy and Delivery; member of Revenue and Financial Value Review; member of CCO Review and Appointments; member of Grants Subcommittee

Wharangi/Onslow-Western ward

Wharangi/Onslow-Western ward returns three councillors to the Wellington City Council. Since 2025 the councillors are:
PhotoNameAffiliation First electedResponsibilities
Diane CalvertIndependent2016Chair of Council Planning and Finance; member of Economic Growth and Development; member of Chief Executive Performance Review Committee
Rebecca MatthewsGreen2019Deputy Chair of Revenue and Financial Value Review; member of Regulatory Processes Committee; Deputy Chair of Audit and Risk Committee
Ray ChungIndependent Together2022Member of Revenue and Financial Value Review; Chair of CCO Review and Appointments; member of Grants Subcommittee; member of Audit and Risk Committee

Paekawakawa/Southern ward

Paekawakawa/Southern ward is the only ward that returns two councillors to the Wellington City Council. Since 2025 the councillors are:
PhotoNameAffiliation First electedResponsibilities
Nureddin AbdurahmanLabour2022Chair of City Strategy and Delivery; member of Grants Subcommittee; member of Chief Executive Performance Review Committee
Laurie FoonGreens2019Chair of Social, Cultural and Environment; member of Economic Growth and Development; member of Regulatory Processes Committee

Pouiwi

Two pouiwi 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:
PhotoNameAppointed byResponsibilities
Holden HohaiaTaranaki 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 KellyNgāti 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

    • Committees

    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, who are paid and have voting rights.
    CommitteeChairDeputy ChairMembership
    Te Kaunihera o PōnekeMayor Andrew LittleDeputy Mayor Ben McNultyAll councillors
    Council Planning and FinanceCr Diane CalvertCr Sam O’Brien
    City Strategy and DeliveryCr Nureddin AbdurahmanCr Andrea Compton
    Social, Cultural and EnvironmentCr Laurie FoonCr Afnan Al-Rubayee
    Revenue and Financial Value ReviewDeputy Mayor Ben McNultyCr Rebecca MatthewsMayor Andrew Little, Cr Ray Chung, Cr Andrea Compton, Cr Sam O’Brien, Cr Tony Randle, Pouiwi representative
    Economic Growth and DevelopmentCr Karl TiefenbacherCr Matthew RewetiMayor Andrew Little, Deputy Mayor McNulty, Cr Calvert, Cr Laurie Foon, Cr Nicola Young, Pouiwi representative
    CCO Review and AppointmentsCr Ray ChungCr Tony RandleMayor Andrew Little, Cr Afnan Al-Rubayee, Cr Andrea Compton, Cr Jonny Osborne, Pouiwi representative
    Grants SubcommitteeCr Nicola YoungCr Afnan Al-RubayeeMayor Andrew Little, Cr Nureddin Abdurahman, Cr Andrea Compton, Cr Jonny Osborne, Cr Ray Chung, Pouiwi representative
    Regulatory Processes CommitteeCr Geordie RogersCr Tony RandleMayor Andrew Little, Cr Laurie Foon, Cr Sam O’Brien, Cr Rebecca Matthews, Cr Matthew Reweti, Cr Karl Tiefenbacher, Pouiwi representative
    Chief Executive Performance Review CommitteeMayor Andrew LittleDeputy Mayor McNultyCr Nureddin Abdurahman, Cr Diane Calvert, Cr Karl Tiefenbacher
    Audit and Risk CommitteeIndependent ChairCr Rebecca MatthewsMayor Andrew Little, Cr Ray Chung, Cr Sam O’Brien, Cr Jonny Osborne, Cr Tony Randle, Cr Matthew Reweti, Pouiwi representative, independent Member

    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.
    CommitteeChairDeputy ChairMembership
    Mākara/Ōhāriu Community BoardMark ReedDarren HoskinsChristine Grace, Chris Renner, Wayne Rudd, Hamish Todd
    Tawa Community BoardJill DayLiz LanghamCr McNulty, Cr Randle, Rachel Allan, Tim Davin, Jesse Elias, Miriam Moore
    Tawa Community Board Grants CommitteevacantRachel Allan, Miriam Moore, Jill Day, Tim Davin

    History

    City status and council origin

    The settlement became the colonial capital and seat of government in 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.
    In 1870, the Wellington City Corporation was formed, with former town board chairman Joe Dransfield being elected as its mayor. Wellington formally attained city status in 1881 when its non-Māori population surpassed 20,000. The Municipal Corporations Act 1886 further ratified Wellington's status as a city, alongside Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch and Nelson, retroactively recognising it to have been such since 16 September 1870.

    Amalgamations

    The City of Wellington has subsumed many neighbouring boroughs including:

    Wards

    Wellington's local electoral wards were given Māori names in 2018, after consultation with mana whenua.
    In May 2021, the Wellington City Council voted 13–2 to establish a Māori ward, with the Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori ward first contested in the 2022 elections.
    In July 2024, the National-led coalition government passed the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024 which reinstated the requirement that councils must hold a referendum before establishing Māori wards or constituencies. In September 2024, the council voted 13–3 to affirm their decision to establish the Māori constituency, thereby triggering a referendum on the constituency to be held alongside the 2025 local elections.
    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.

    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:
    NameYears
    George White1842–1843
    Robert Suckling Cheesman
    William Bannister1863–1865
    J. B. Wallace1865–1867
    John Rigg1867–1871
    William Hester1872–1877
    Charles C. Graham1877–1883
    Thomas F. Martin1883–1889
    Joseph Page1889-1902
    John R. Palmer1902–1925
    Robert Tait Jr. 1925–1926
    Edwin Philip Norman1926–1952
    Basil Peterson1952–1956
    Mervyn Sinclair Duckworth1956–1964
    Francis W. Pringle1964–1972
    Ian McCutcheon1972–1984
    David Niven1984–1991
    Doug Matheson
    Angela C. Griffin1991–1997
    Garry Poole1998–2013
    Kevin Lavery2013–2019
    Barbara McKerrow2019–2025
    Matt Prosser2025–present

    Civic symbols

    Coat of arms

    The Wellington City Council first adopted a coat of arms in 1878. This coat of arms had the description:
    The Wellington City Corporation was granted an official coat of arms by the College of Arms in 1951, the blazon for which is:

    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.

    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, 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

    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; Vogeltowninformal: 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.

    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. The council operates two public service desks out of Johnsonville Library and Te Awe Library in the CBD. 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.

    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. Former Mayor Andy Foster was a member of the board from 2016 to 2022 and was criticised for poor attendance at board meetings. In 2022 he was replaced by incoming mayor Tory Whanau, who was also criticised for poor attendance.
    The seven council-controlled organisations are
    The council has a similar interest in the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust.

    Sister-city relationships

    ;Sister cities
    ;Historical sister cities
    ;Friendly cities
    Proposed/earmarked future sister cities