Community boards in New Zealand are local government bodies that may be established for any continuous area within a territorial authority area, intended to represent and advocate for specific communities. , there are 111 community boards across New Zealand. They are distinct from the local boards of Auckland Council.
History Community boards were first established as part of the 1989 local government reforms, with 159 community boards created. Community boards had been preceded as sub-municipal bodies by community councils, 139 of which existed at the time of the 1989 reforms.
In 2010, 28 community boards were disestablished when the Auckland Council was formed.
Legal status Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 2002, community boards are unincorporated bodies that are not local authorities nor a committee of the relevant territorial authority.Local Government Act 2002 s 51
According to a lawyer at the Nelson law firm Fletcher Vautier Moore, unincorporated in this context refers to the fact that community boards do not exist outside their members; there is no separate legal person.
Functions Community boards are currently governed by the provisions of Part 4 of the Local Government Act 2002 and can be created, or dissolved by territorial authorities. In addition Auckland has 21 local boards and some councils have community committees.
Under the Local Electoral Act 2001, boards must have at least four members but not more than twelve. At least four must be elected members, but up to half can be appointed by the council.
Their purpose is to:
represent and act as an advocate for the interests of the community; consider and report on any matter referred to it by their council, and any issues of interest to the community board; make an annual submission to their council on expenditure; maintain an overview of services provided by their council within the community; and communicate with community organisations and special interest groups in the community, and undertake any other responsibilities delegated by their council.
Boards can have powers delegated to them by councils, but cannot own land, or employ staff.
Levels of delegation vary greatly: 25 councils (60%) give boards power to make community grants, 11 (26%) power to run parks and reserves, 10 (24%) power to run community centres and sports and recreation and, in Southland, to spend up to $300,000 on projects. In Thames-Coromandel boards have control of local harbours, parks, halls, libraries, airfields, swimming pools, toilets, cemeteries, buses, planning, grants, economic development and bylaws.
List of community boards Territorial authorityCommunity boards North IslandFar North District CouncilBay of Islands-Whangaroa Community BoardTe Hiku Community BoardKaikohe-Hokianga Community BoardThames-Coromandel District CouncilCoromandel-Colville Community BoardMercury Bay Community BoardTairua/Pāuanui Community BoardWhangamatā Community BoardThames Community BoardWaikato District CouncilHuntly Community BoardNgāruawāhia Community BoardTuakau Community BoardRaglan Community BoardTaupiri Community BoardRural-Port Waikato Community BoardWaipā District CouncilCambridge Community BoardTe Awamutu and Kihikihi Community BoardŌtorohanga District CouncilŌtorohanga Community BoardKawhia Community BoardSouth Waikato District CouncilTīrau Community BoardWestern Bay of Plenty District CouncilKatikati Community BoardMaketu Community BoardŌmokoroa-Kaimai Community BoardTe Puke-Eastern Community BoardWaihī Beach Community BoardWhakatāne District CouncilWhakatāne-Ōhope Community BoardTāneatua Community BoardRangitāiki Community BoardMurupara Community BoardRotorua Lakes CouncilRotorua Lakes Community BoardRotorua Rural Community BoardŌpōtiki District CouncilCoast Community BoardRuapehu District CouncilŌwhango National Park Community BoardWaimarino-Waiouru Community BoardTaumarunui–Ōhura Community BoardNew Plymouth District CouncilClifton Community BoardInglewood Community BoardKaitake Community BoardWaitara Community BoardPuketapu-Bell Block Community BoardSouth Taranaki District CouncilEltham-Kaponga Community BoardPātea Community BoardTe Hāwera Community BoardTaranaki Coastal Community BoardHastings District CouncilHastings Rural Community BoardWhanganui District CouncilWhanganui Rural Community BoardRangitīkei District CouncilTaihape Community BoardRātana Community BoardHorowhenua District CouncilTe Awahou Foxton Community BoardTararua District CouncilDannevirke Community BoardEketāhuna Community BoardKāpiti Coast District CouncilŌtakiParaparaumuRaumatiWaikanaePaekākārikiHutt City CouncilEastbourne Community BoardWainuiomata Community BoardWellington City CouncilTawa Community BoardMākara/Ōhāriu Community BoardSouth Wairarapa District CouncilFeatherstonGreytownMartinborough South Island and Stewart Island / RakiuraTasman District CouncilGolden BayMotuekaBuller District CouncilInangahuaHurunui District CouncilHanmer Springs Community BoardSouth Ward Community BoardWaimakariri District CouncilKaiapoi-TuahiwiRangiora-AshleyWoodend-SeftonOxford-OhokaSelwyn District CouncilMalvernChristchurch City CouncilWaimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-HarewoodWaipapa Papanui-Innes-CentralWaitai Coastal-Burwood-LinwoodWaihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-HeathcoteWaipuna Halswell-Hornby-RiccartonTe Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks PeninsulaAshburton District CouncilMethvenTimaru District CouncilGeraldinePleasant PointTemukaMackenzie District CouncilFairlie Community BoardLake Tekapo Community BoardTwizel Community BoardWaitaki District CouncilAhuririWaihemoQueenstown-Lakes District CouncilWānaka-Upper Clutha Community BoardCentral Otago District CouncilCromwellManiototoTeviot ValleyVincentDunedin City CouncilWest HarbourMosgiel-TaieriOtago PeninsulaSaddle HillStrath TaieriWaikouaiti CoastClutha District CouncilLawrence-TuapekaWest OtagoGore District CouncilMatauraInvercargill City CouncilBluffSouthland District CouncilFiordlandNorthernArdlussaTuatapere Te WaewaeWallace TakitimuŌraka AparimaŌretiWaihōpai ToetoeStewart Island-Rakiura
Similar entities The Auckland Council operates 21 local boards, which function similarly to community boards. They manage local events, libraries, parks and other facilities. Each local board has 5 to 9 elected members.
The Marlborough District Council operates the Picton Regional Forum, which was established after the local government decided to merge the former Picton Ward and the Pelorus/Northern Marlborough Sounds Ward into the single Marlborough Sounds Ward. It serves as a platform for local organisations to discuss and make recommendations on high-level strategic issues. Its members are officials from local companies, residents' associations and interest groups.
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