Napier City Council
Napier City Council Te Kaunihera o Ahuriri | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Brand logo | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
| Established | 1 November 1989; 36 years ago |
| Preceded by | Napier City Council |
New session started | 17 October 2025 |
| Leadership | |
Graeme Taylor, Ind. since 17 March 2026 | |
Louise Miller since 13 March 2023 | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 12 (including mayor) |
 | |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 3 years |
| Elections | |
| First-past-the-post | |
First election | 14 October 1989 |
Last election | 11 October 2025 |
Next election | 14 October 2028 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Dunvegan House | |
| Website | |
| napier.govt.nz | |
Napier City Council (NCC; Māori: Te Kaunihera o Ahuriri) is the territorial authority for the city of Napier, New Zealand. It serves as the city's local government alongside the Hawke's Bay Regional Council as the regional council.
A borough council was initially formed for the town of Napier in 1874. In 1950, the borough was granted city status and in 1968 Taradale Borough merged with it. 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 council has 11 councillors and is chaired by the mayor of Napier (Richard McGrath since October 2025).
Jurisdiction
The authority has local government responsibility over the city of Napier, from the coastal settlement of Bay View on the northern boundary, to Taradale on the southern Tūtaekuri river boundary. Its western boundary is in the hills immediately west of the city and its eastern boundary is the coast of Hawke Bay.[2]
History
A borough council was formed for Napier in 26 November 1874.[3] The borough council gained city status on 18 March 1950.[4] The borough of Taradale merged with Napier on 1 April 1968.[5] In 1989, the city council was abolished and replaced with a new authority of the same name.[6]
Governing body
Mayor
One mayor is elected at large. They chair meetings of the governing body and act as the head of local government in the city.
Current composition
The current members of the governing body of council are:[7][8]
| Role | Portrait | Name | Affiliation | Ward | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Richard McGrath | Independent | Elected at large | ||
| Deputy | Graeme Taylor | Independent | Taradale | ||
| Councillor | Roger Brownlie | Independent | Ahuriri | ||
| Councillor | Keith Price | Independent | Ahuriri | ||
| Councillor | Sally Crown | Independent | Ahuriri | ||
| Councillor | Greg Mawson | Independent | Napier Central | ||
| Councillor | Craig Morley | Independent | Napier Central | ||
| Councillor | Te Kira Lawrence | Independent | Napier Central | ||
| Councillor | Ronda Chrystal | Independent | Taradale | ||
| Councillor | Nigel Simpson | Independent | Taradale | ||
| Councillor | Shyann Raihania | Independent | Te Whanga Māori | ||
| Councillor | Whare Isaac-Sharland | Independent | Te Whanga Māori | ||
Wards
The authority has four wards, including three general (Ahuriri, Napier Central, and Taradale) and one Māori ward (Te Whanga).[9]
Ahuriri general ward is wide-ranging and includes the northern areas from Bay View south to Poraiti, Napier Hill, Central Napier, and the coastal areas south to Awatoto and the eastern part of Meeanee.[9]
Napier Central general ward covers the suburbs in the geographic middle of the city, that is, most of Maraenui, Marewa, Onekawa, Pirimai and Tamatea (it does not not include the CBD).[9]
Taradale general ward covers Greenmeadows, Taradale and the western part of Meeanee.[9]
Te Whanga is the Māori ward and covers the entire city.[9]
Elections
List
Council
Mayoral
Coat of arms
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References
- ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
- ↑ "Napier Operative District Plan". Napier City Council. 2014.
- ↑ Pollen, Daniel (26 November 1874). "Establishing a Municipality at Napier" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette (63): 810.
- ↑ Bodkin, W. A. (8 March 1950). "Proclaiming the Borough of Napier to be a City" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette (14): 244.
- ↑ Brooks, P. J. (25 March 1968). "City of Napier and Borough of Taradale United Under Name of the City of Napier" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette (17): 496.
- ↑ Reeves, Paul (8 June 1989). "Orders in Council for Local Government Reorganisation" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette (99).
- ↑ "Mayor and Councillors". Napier City Council. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections DECLARATION OF RESULT" (PDF). www.electionz.com. Napier City Council. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Napier's electoral wards". Napier City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- ↑ "Our crest and logo". Napier City Council. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ↑ McLintock, A. H. "Coat of Arms, Napier City". Te Ara - An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand 1966. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ↑ Fowler, Michael (16 February 2020). "Flagging some new ideas". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ↑ "Grant of arms to the City of Napier letters patent". Internet Archive. College of Arms. 31 March 1951. Retrieved 13 March 2026.