Wellington City Council (abbr. WCC; ) is the territorial authority for the city of Wellington, New Zealand (the country's capital). It serves as the city's local government alongside the Greater Wellington Regional Council as the regional council.
A city council for the city was first formed in 1870, replacing the former town board which had existed since 1863. Following the 1989 reforms to local government, that city council was dissolved and the current authority was established under the same name.
The governing body of the council has 15 councillors and is chaired by the mayor of Wellington (currently Andrew Little since October 2025). There are also two community boards.
History
Predecessors 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.
The City of Wellington has subsumed many neighbouring boroughs including:
Melrose (established 1888) in 1903 Onslow (Khandallah/Ngaio) (established 1890) in 1919 (Wadestown had joined the city in 1906) Karori (established 1891) in 1920 Miramar (established 1904) in 1921 Johnsonville (a Town Board from 1908), in 1953 Tawa (a Town district from 1951, then the Tawa Flat Borough Council from 1953) in 1989
Crown observer 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 accused the government of being politically motivated in their decision to appoint the Crown Observer.
Governing body
Mayor
One mayor is elected at large from the entire Wellington City district.
Current composition The current members of the governing body of council are: RolePortraitNameAffiliationFirst electedWardMayorAndrew LittleLabour2025Elected at-largeDeputyBen McNultyLabour2022Takapū/NorthernCouncillorvacant2026Takapū/NorthernCouncillorAndrea ComptonIndependent2025Takapū/NorthernCouncillorDiane CalvertIndependent2016Wharangi/Onslow-WesternCouncillorRebecca MatthewsGreen2019Wharangi/Onslow-WesternCouncillorRay ChungIndependent Together2022Wharangi/Onslow-WesternCouncillorGeordie RogersGreen2024Pukehīnau/LambtonCouncillorAfnan Al-RubayeeLabour2025Pukehīnau/LambtonCouncillorNicola YoungIndependent2013Pukehīnau/LambtonCouncillorKarl TiefenbacherIndependent2025Motukairangi/EasternCouncillorSam O'BrienLabour2025Motukairangi/EasternCouncillorJonny OsborneGreen2025Motukairangi/EasternCouncillorNureddin AbdurahmanLabour2022Paekawakawa/SouthernCouncillorLaurie FoonGreen2019Paekawakawa/SouthernCouncillorMatthew RewetiLabour2025Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori
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 (pouiwi), who are paid and have voting rights. + Committees and subcommittees of the Wellington City Council Committee Chair Deputy Chair MembershipCommittees Te Hoe Matua –City Strategy and Delivery Cr Abdurahman Cr Compton Mayor, all councillors, both pouiwi Te Taurapa –Council Planning and Finance Cr Calvert Cr O’Brien Mayor, all councillors, both pouiwi Te Rauawa –Social, Cultural, and Environment Cr Foon Cr Al-Rubayee Mayor, all councillors, both pouiwiTe Takere –Regulatory ProcessesCr RogersCr RandleMayor Little, Cr Calvert, Cr Tiefenbacher, Cr Reweti, Cr Matthews, Cr O’Brien, PI HohaiaTe Kura o te Waka –Audit and RiskPaul ConnellMatthewsMayor Little, Cr Osborne, Cr Reweti, Cr Chung, Cr O’Brien, Cr Randle, PI Kelly, Rachael DeanTumu Whakatere –Mayor LittleDpty McNultyCr Calvert, Cr Tiefenbacher, Cr AbdurahmanDistrict Licensing Kate Thomson, Bill Acton, Saar Cohen-Ronen Clare Needham, Joanne Nicoll, Juliet Philpott, Leaha North, Madeline Kirk-Wilson, Mark Boyce, Simon TendeterSubcommittees Te Urungi Whakatupu Ōhanga –Economic Growth and Development Cr Tiefenbacher Cr Reweti Mayor Little, Dpty McNulty, Cr Calvert, Cr Foon, Cr Young, Cr Abdurahman, PI Kelly Ngā Toki Whakahaere –CCO Review and Appointments Cr Matthews Cr Randle Mayor Little, Cr Al-Rubayee, Cr Compton, Cr Osborne, Cr Abdurahman, PI Hohaia Te Mataaho o te Hapori –Grants Cr Young Cr Al-Rubayee Mayor Little, Cr Compton, Cr Osborne, Cr Foon, Cr Abdurahman, Cr Chung, PI Hohaia
Pouiwi Two pouiwi (tribal representatives) 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 byResponsibilitiesHolden 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 CommitteeLiz 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
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.
+ Wellington City Council community boards Community board Elected members Council appointees Chair Deputy chair Board members Mākara/Ōhāriu Community Board Darren Hoskins Hamish Todd Chris RennerWayne RuddRobert O'BrienBrett Marley Tawa Community Board Jill Day Tim Davin Carla BatesMichael HillMiriam MooreRob Suisted Deputy Mayor Ben McNultyCr Andrea Compton
Chief executive
The professional head of the civil service is the chief executive, who is appointed by the council.
+Chief executives of Wellington City Council Name YearsDavid Niven1984–1991Doug Matheson (acting)Angela C. Griffin1991–1997Garry Poole1998–2013Kevin Lavery2013–2019Barbara McKerrow2019–2025Matt Prosser2025–present
Council-owned organisations 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 (CCOs) are Basin Reserve Trust Karori Sanctuary Trust (Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne) Wellington Cable Car Ltd Wellington Museums Trust (ExperienceWellington), which operates City Gallery Wellington and the Museum of Wellington City & Sea Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency Ltd (WREDA) Tiaki Wai manages all three water services for Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington city councils. Wellington Zoo Trust
The council has a similar interest in the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust.
Elections
List Council
Mayoral
Wards
The city is divided into six local electoral wards. The wards were given Māori names in 2018, after consultation with mana whenua.
Takapū / Northern general ward The Takapū / Northern general ward is represented on the council by 3 councillors, and covers the suburbs of Churton Park, Glenside, Grenada North, Grenada Village, Horokiwi, Johnsonville, Newlands, Ōhāriu, Paparangi, Takapu Valley, Tawa and Woodridge.
Wharangi / Onslow-Western general ward The Wharangi / Onslow-Western general ward is represented on the council by 3 councillors, and covers the suburbs of Broadmeadows, Crofton Downs, Kaiwharawhara, Karori, Khandallah, Mākara, Mākara Beach, Ngaio, Ngauranga, Northland, Wadestown and Wilton.
Pukehīnau / Lambton general ward The Pukehīnau / Lambton general ward is represented on the council by 3 councillors, and covers the suburbs of Aro Valley, Highbury, Kelburn, Mount Cook, Mount Victoria, Oriental Bay, Pipitea, Te Aro, Thorndon and Wellington Central.
Motukairangi / Eastern general ward The Motukairangi / Eastern general ward is represented on the council by 3 councillors, and covers the suburbs of Breaker Bay, Hataitai, Houghton Bay, Karaka Bays, Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, Maupuia, Melrose, Miramar, Moa Point, Rongotai, Roseneath, Seatoun and Strathmore Park.
Paekawakawa / Southern general ward The Paekawakawa / Southern general ward is represented on the council by 2 councillors, and covers the suburbs of Berhampore, Brooklyn, Island Bay, Kingston, Mornington, Newtown, Ōwhiro Bay, Southgate and Vogeltown.
Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori ward 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.
Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori ward is represented on the council by 1 councillor, and covers the entire city.
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 ward, thereby triggering a referendum on the ward to be held alongside the 2025 local elections. Wellington voters elected to retain the Māori ward.
Offices
The Wellington City Council owned and until May 2019 operated from a complex on Wakefield Street, with various extensions each representing a distinctive architectural period. The complex incorporated 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 was cleared of back office functions, and from 28 May 2019 onwards was closed completely, after which it was demolished. Most of the council's central office staff were located in commercial premises at 113 The Terrace until 2026, when they moved to Harris Street..
Due to repairs also being needed to the Wellington Central Library, and Capital E, all of the civic buildings on Civic Square except for the City Gallery were closed until June 2026, when Te Matapihi (Wellington Central Library) reopened. While the Library was closed, the council operated two public service desks out of Johnsonville Library and Te Awe Library in the CBD.
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: