2.1 About Auckland Council

Auckland Council is the local authority responsible for all local government decisions in the Auckland region. It was created in November 2010 through the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009, which merged seven city and district councils with the Auckland Regional Council into a single organisation. This merging of functions means Auckland Council is what is known as a 'unitary authority'. 

The purpose of local government

The Local Government Act 2002 is the key law that outlines how councils work and exists to make sure there is democratic and effective local government that recognises the diversity of communities [1]. The Act says the purpose of local government is to: 

• support democratic local decision-making and action, and 
• promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of communities now and in the future [2]. 

Each region or district has a local authority to do this job. These authorities must be accountable to their communities and consider what their people need. 

Types of local authorities

There are three main types of local authorities in New Zealand: 

• Territorial authorities – city and district councils. 
• Regional councils – responsible for wider regional matters such as air quality, flood protection and transport planning. 
• Unitary councils – combine the powers of both a regional council and a territorial authority.  There are only six in New Zealand: Auckland Council, Chatham Islands Council, Gisborne District Council, Marlborough District Council, Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council. 

Auckland Council’s structure 

Auckland Council has a governance structure unlike any other in New Zealand. It includes: 

• The Governing Body – the mayor and 20 councillors who make decisions for the whole Auckland region 
• 21 local boards – elected members who make decisions for their local areas [4]. 

It also includes Houkura, an independent board that ensures Māori views are considered in Auckland Council’s decision-making. 

The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 sets out the roles of the Governing Body and local boards and provides principles for allocating non-regulatory activities between them. Once an activity is allocated to a local board it becomes their responsibility. The annual plan (or long-term plan) lists these responsibilities each year.  

For more information, visit Decision-making. 

Auckland Council’s role and powers

The Local Government Act 2002 explains how councils have to carry out their responsibilities in line with their role, status and powers [5]. 

Role

The role of a local authority is to: 

• give effect to the purpose of local government 
• carry out any duties and use any powers given to it by law. 

Status 

Auckland Council is a corporate body, which means it can: 

• own property 
• enter into contracts 
• continue to exist when elected members change [6]. 

It is a legal entity separate from the people who work for or are elected to it. 

Powers

Auckland Council must use its powers: 

• for the benefit of all of Auckland as a region (in its role as a regional council) 
• for the benefit of its local areas (in its role as a territorial authority). 

Footnotes

[1] Section 3 Local Government Act 2002 

[2] Section 3 Local Government Act 2002 

[3] Section 6 Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 

[4] Section 7 Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 

[5] Sections 9 – 13 Local Government Act 2002 

[6] Section 12 Local Government Act 2002