9.1 Mayoral role and regalia at public events

Representation at community events 

Elected members act as community leaders and represent Auckland Council at local events. 

• The mayor is the community’s chosen leading citizen and the council’s main public representative. 
• Elected members may be guests of honour, host dignitaries, represent central government or officiate at events on behalf of the council. 
• Council staff work with elected members and their teams to confirm who will attend and what their role will be.

The mayor’s role at public events

The mayor is the council’s primary representative at public events. This is established by convention and reflects the mayor’s leadership role across the region. 

• Other elected members should not represent the council at public events without the mayor’s agreement. 
• The mayor may delegate this representative role to the deputy mayor, another elected member or local board members where appropriate. 
• Staff planning openings and events will facilitate discussions with elected members and their support departments about roles and responsibilities at the function. 

Supporting local initiatives

The mayor also plays an important ambassadorial role.  This includes: 

• supporting and promoting initiatives that benefit Auckland’s communities 
• acting as a spokesperson, champion or facilitator for important regional or local causes 
• helping raise the profile of projects or issues that matter to Aucklanders. 

Cultural support at events

At Māori functions and events, the mayor may be accompanied by a kaikōrero—a competent speaker of Te Reo and oratory—to provide cultural advice and support. 

Mayoral chains

The mayor may wear a chain of office at ceremonies to symbolise the significance of the office and the formality of the occasion. Auckland Council did not create a new mayoral chain when the region’s seven local councils and regional council merged. Instead, the council kept the mayoral chains from the legacy councils. 

• Wearing a chain of office is a historical British custom still observed by mayors in New Zealand, Australia and Canada. 
• The mayor uses the chain from the legacy council that corresponds to the area where the ceremony is taking place. 
• Chains may be worn when officiating at citizenship ceremonies or attending ANZAC services. 
• The mayor does not wear a chain when chairing Governing Body meetings. 

Robes and korowai

Auckland Council has not created new mayoral robes, but the mayor may wear a korowai (cloak), gifted by Māori to recognise the mana of the mayor’s role. 

• A korowai may be given to the mayor as an individual or for use in the role. 
• The korowai is returned when the mayor retires, and a separate gift is given to acknowledge their service. 

Other traditional ceremonial practices, such as using a mace at meetings, have been discontinued 

For more information on the mayor’s role, visit The mayor’s role and powers.