Community boards in New Zealand explained

In New Zealand, community boards are governed by the provisions of Part 4 of the Local Government Act 2002^[1] and can be created, or dissolved by territorial authorities, 40 out of 78 of which have 111 boards.^[2] In addition Auckland has 21 local boards^[3] and some councils have community committees.^{[4] [5]}

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.^[6]

Boards can have powers delegated to them by councils, but cannot own land, or employ staff.^[7]

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^[8] and, in Southland, to spend up to $300,000 on projects.^[9] In Thames-Coromandel boards have control of local harbours, parks, halls, libraries, airfields, swimming pools, toilets, cemeteries, buses, planning, grants, economic development and bylaws.^[10]

List of community boards

Territorial authority	Community boards^[11]
North Island
Far North District Council	Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board Te Hiku Community Board Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board
Thames-Coromandel District Council	Coromandel-Colville Community Board Mercury Bay Community Board Tairua/Pauanui Community Board Whangamatā Community Board Thames Community Board
Waikato District Council	Huntly Community Board Ngāruawāhia Community Board Tuakau Community Board Raglan Community Board Taupiri Community Board Rural & Port Waikato Community Board^[12]
Waipa District Council	Cambridge Community Board Te Awamutu Community Board
Ōtorohanga District Council	Ōtorohanga Community Board Kawhia Community Board
South Waikato District Council	Tīrau Community Board
Western Bay of Plenty District Council	Katikati Community Board Maketu Community Board Ōmokoroa Community Board Te Puke Community Board Waihi Beach Community Board
Whakatāne District Council	Whakatāne-Ōhope Community Board Tāneatua Community Board Rangitaiki Community Board Murupara Community Board
Rotorua Lakes Council	Rotorua Lakes Community Board Rotorua Rural Community Board^[13]
Ōpōtiki District Council	Coast Community Board
Taupō District Council	Tūrangi-Tongariro Community Board
Ruapehu District Council	Ōwhango-National Park Community Board Waimarino-Waiouru Community Board Taumarunui–Ōhura Community Board^[14]
New Plymouth District Council	Clifton Community Board Inglewood Community Board Kaitake Community Board Waitara Community Board Puketapu-Bell Block Community Board^[15]
South Taranaki District Council	Eltham-Kaponga Community Board Pātea Community Board Te Hāwera Community Board Taranaki Coastal Community Board
Hastings District Council	Hastings Rural Community Board
Whanganui District Council	Whanganui Rural Community Board
Rangitīkei District Council	Taihape Community Board Rātana Community Board
Horowhenua District Council	Te Awahou Foxton Community Board^[16]
Tararua District Council	Dannevirke Community Board Eketāhuna Community Board
Kāpiti Coast District Council	Ōtaki Paraparaumu Raumati Waikanae Paekākāriki^[17]
Hutt City Council	Eastbourne Community Board Petone Community Board Wainuiomata Community Board
Wellington City Council	Tawa Community Board Mākara/Ōhāriu Community Board
South Wairarapa District Council	Featherston Greytown Martinborough
South Island and Stewart Island / Rakiura
Tasman District Council	Golden Bay Motueka
Buller District Council	Inangahua
Hurunui District Council	Hanmer Springs
Waimakariri District Council	Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Rangiora-Ashley Woodend-Sefton Oxford-Ohoka
Selwyn District Council	Malvern
Christchurch City Council	Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula^[18]
Ashburton District Council	Methven
Timaru District Council	Geraldine Pleasant Point Temuka
Mackenzie District Council	Fairlie Community Board Lake Tekapo Community Board Twizel Community Board^[19]
Waitaki District Council	Ahuriri Waihemo
Queenstown-Lakes District Council	Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board^[20]
Central Otago District Council	Cromwell Maniototo Teviot Valley Vincent
Dunedin City Council	West Harbour Mosgiel-Taieri Otago Peninsula Saddle Hill Strath Taieri Waikouaiti Coast
Clutha District Council	Lawrence-Tuapeka West Otago
Gore District Council	Mataura
Invercargill City Council	Bluff
Southland District Council	Fiordland Northern Ardlussa Tuatapere Te Waewae Wallace Takitimu Oraka Aparima Oreti Waihopai Toetoe Stewart Island-Raikura^[21]

See also

• Local boards of Auckland Council
• Civil parish

Notes and References

1. Web site: Local Government Act 2002 No 84 (as at 01 July 2017). www.legislation.govt.nz. en-NZ. 2018-05-24.
2. Web site: Community boards website.pdf. LGNZ.
3. Web site: Local boards. Auckland Council. en. 2018-05-24.
4. Web site: Selwyn District Council - Council Community Committees. www.selwyn.govt.nz. en-NZ. 2018-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180524221749/https://www.selwyn.govt.nz/council/community/council-community-committees. 2018-05-24. dead.
5. Web site: Pokeno Community Committee. www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz. en-nz. 2018-05-24.
6. Web site: Community boards We are. LGNZ.. www.lgnz.co.nz. en. 2018-05-24.
7. Web site: Local Government Act 2002 No 84 (as at 01 July 2017), Public Act 53 Powers of community boards. www.legislation.govt.nz. en-NZ. 2018-05-24.
8. Web site: The Good Governance Guide for Community Boards . LGNZ.
9. Web site: Community Governance Reference Document. 2018. Southland District Council.
10. Web site: Thames-Coromandel District Council - Community Governance Project. www.tcdc.govt.nz. en-NZ. 2018-05-24.
11. Web site: Community Boards list . www.lgnz.co.nz . Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) . 24 May 2022.
12. Web site: Community Boards . www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz . . 23 October 2022.
13. Web site: Mayor and Elected Members . www.rotorualakescouncil.nz . . 23 October 2022.
14. Web site: Elected Representatives . www.ruapehudc.govt.nz . . 23 October 2022.
15. Web site: Community board members . www.npdc.govt.nz . . 23 October 2022 . en-NZ.
16. Web site: Te Awahou Foxton Community Board . www.horowhenua.govt.nz . . 23 October 2022 . en-AU.
17. Web site: Community Boards . www.kapiticoast.govt.nz . Kāpiti Coast District Council . 15 October 2022 . en-nz.
18. Web site: Community Boards . ccc.govt.nz . . 23 October 2022.
19. Web site: Committees and Community Boards . www.mackenzie.govt.nz . . 23 October 2022 . en . 10 June 2021.
20. Web site: Elected Members - QLDC . www.qldc.govt.nz . . 23 October 2022.
21. Web site: How is Council made up? . www.southlanddc.govt.nz . . 23 October 2022.