Local government in New Zealand is represented by regional and territorial (city or district) councils. Regional councils like Greater Wellington cover larger areas than territorial councils - there are eight territorial councils within our boundaries.
Natural resources, and their use, often cross local boundaries so regional councils manage these resources for the benefit of the whole region. Some things, like transport planning, are also best carried out at a regional level. We’re one of 16 regional councils and unitary authorities (territorial authorities that also have the powers of a regional council) in New Zealand. For more information, check out Te Uru Kahika.
City and district councils are responsible for essential community services within their own areas, such as road maintenance, land-use and subdivisions, community health, and community services (libraries, swimming pools and recreation areas).
We work co-operatively with city and district councils (territorial authorities). For example, all councils of the region are involved with the Wellington Regional Strategy which is looking at sustainable urban development in the region to 2050. The Regional Strategy will provide an overarching framework for linking all our planning documents with major milestones along the way.
Councillors decide the overall policies while management decide how the activities should be carried out.
Various Acts of Parliament such as the Local Government Act (LGA) 2002 and the Resource Management Act 1991 provide the framework to enable Greater Wellington to undertake its activities.
The LGA is not prescriptive, meaning that if the community wants us to do something and is prepared to pay for it, we can do it.
