Palmerston North City Council (abbr. PNCC; Māori: Te Kaunihera o Papaioea) is the territorial authority for the city of Palmerston North, New Zealand. It serves as the city's local government alongside Horizons Regional Council as the regional council.
A borough council for the area was formed in 1877, and was granted city status in 1930. Following the 1989 reforms to local government, that city council was dissolved and the current authority established.
The governing body of the council has 15 councillors and is chaired by the mayor of Palmerston North (currently Grant Smith since February 2015).
History
Predecessors Local government in Palmerston North began with the formation of a town board and a local board within Wellington Province in 1876,. When the provinces were dissolved in 1876, Palmerston North became part of the newly established Manawatū County.
An independent borough council for Palmerston North was proclaimed on 12 July 1877, splitting from Manawatū County. The first borough council consisted of nine councillors, and George Matthew Snelson was elected unopposed to be the first Mayor of Palmerston North on 9 August 1877.
It went on to be raised to city-status on 11 August 1930, becoming New Zealand's 7th city.
The boundaries of the city went on to be expanded to include parts of Awapuni (in April 1953), Highbury (in April 1961), and Amberley, Aokautere, Kelvin Grove, Milson and further parts of Awapuni (in September 1967).
1989 reforms Following the local government reforms of 1989, the city council's boundaries were again extended to include Ashhurst, Linton and Turitea through amalgamation of parts of the former Kairanga County, Oroua County and Ashhurst Town Council.
Expansion since 1989 On 1 July 2012, Bunnythorpe, Longburn, part of the area around Kairanga and an area around Ashhurst were transferred from the Manawatū District to Palmerston North City.
Composition The elected mayor and councillors provide governance for the city by setting the policy direction of the council, monitoring its performance, representing the city's interests, and employing the Chief Executive.
Mayor
One mayor is elected at-large; they chair meetings of the governing body and act as the head of local government in the district.
Current composition The current members of the governing body of council are:
RolePortrait NameAffiliationWardMayorGrant Smith IndependentAt-largeDeputyDebi Marshall-Lobb Te Pāti MāoriTe PūaoCouncillor Bonnie Kuru IndependentTe PūaoCouncillor Billy Meehan IndependentTe HirawanuiCouncillor Brent Barrett GreenTe HirawanuiCouncillor Hayden Fitzgerald IndependentTe HirawanuiCouncillor Karen Naylor IndependentTe HirawanuiCouncillor Kaydee Zabelin GreenTe HirawanuiCouncillor Leonie Hapeta IndependentTe HirawanuiCouncillor Lew Findlay IndependentTe HirawanuiCouncillor Lorna Johnson LabourTe HirawanuiCouncillor Mark Arnott IndependentTe HirawanuiCouncillor Orphée Mickalad IndependentTe HirawanuiCouncillor Rachel Bowen IndependentTe HirawanuiCouncillor Vaughan Dennison IndependentTe HirawanuiCouncillor William Wood IndependentTe Hirawanui
Wards In 2017 the council voted to create a Māori ward, but the decision was overturned by a city-wide referendum in May 2018.
In 2021, Palmerston North City Council again voted to establish a Māori ward following the passing of the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021.
Elections The local elections of 1962 returned the first woman and first Māori councillors to the city council.
List Council
Mayoral
Civic symbols Coat of arms Palmerston North City Council was granted an official coat of arms in 1989, incorporating elements of the council's previous unofficial coat of arms which had been in use since 1885. The arms contain several visual puns on the name of the city. A description of the arms is:
Flag
The flag of the Palmerston North City Council consists of the coat of arms on a white field. There have been suggestions to change the flag to better represent the city.
See also Territorial authorities bordering Palmerston North City Council: Manawatū District Council Tararua District Council Horowhenua District Council Horizons Regional Council – the regional council covering Palmerston North
References
External links Official website