Invercargill City Council Te Kaunihera-a-rohe o Waihōpai | |
|---|---|
.svg&mode=clean) | |
 Brand logo | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
| Established | 1 November 1989 (1989-11-01); 36 years ago |
| Preceded by | |
New session started | 17 October 2025 |
| Leadership | |
Grant Dermody, Ind. since 18 October 2025 | |
Michael Day since March 2023 | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 13 (including mayor) |
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Political groups |
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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 |
| Motto | |
| Pro communi utilitate | |
| Meeting place | |
| Te Hīnaki Civic Building | |
| Website | |
| icc | |
Invercargill City Council (abbr. ICC; Māori: Te Kaunihera-a-rohe o Waihōpai) is the territorial authority for the city of Invercargill and the surrounding area in New Zealand. It serves as the city's local government alongside Environment Southland as the regional council. It was established in 1989 as part of nation-wide reforms to local government, replacing a borough council of the same name that had existed since 1879.
The governing body of the council has 12 councillors and is chaired by the mayor of Invercargill (currently Tom Campbell since October 2025).
History
[edit]Predecessors
[edit]Following a public meeting on 14 March 1871 to discuss the establishment of the Invercargill municipality, notice of the incorporation of the town of Invercargill was published in the Otago Provincial Gazette on 28 June 1871.[2][3]
Borough elections for the first Mayor of Invercargill were then held on 26 August 1871, with the election of the eight councillors taking place later on 5 September 1871.[2] The electorate for these first elections consisted of Invercargill property owners.[4][5] The council held its inaugural meeting on 11 September 1871.[2]
Early amalgamations
[edit]In 1909, Gladstone, Avenal, North Invercargill and East Invercargill were amalgamated into Invercargill Borough.[5] On 1 March 1930, Invercargill Borough officially gained city status.[6] In 1956, the borough of South Invercargill was amalgamated into the city.[5]
1989 reforms
[edit]The modern borders of the city of Invercargill took shape when Bluff was amalgamated in the local government reforms of 1989.[5]
Mana whenua representatives
[edit]Since 2021, the council has appointed two mana whenua representatives nominated by local runaka. They do not have voting rights at full council meetings but may vote in committee meetings.[7] In 2026, the mana whenua position for Te Rūnanga o Awarua was suspended at their request.[8]
Governing body
[edit]Mayor
[edit]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
[edit]The current members of the governing body of council are:[9][8]
| Role | Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Tom Campbell | Independent |
| Deputy | Grant Dermody | Independent |
| Councillor | Allan Arnold | Independent |
| Councillor | Ria Bond | Independent |
| Councillor | Trish Boyle | Independent |
| Councillor | Steve Broad | Independent |
| Councillor | Alex Crackett | Independent |
| Councillor | Andrea de Vries | Independent |
| Councillor | Darren Ludlow | Independent |
| Councillor | Marcus Lush | Independent |
| Councillor | Ian Pottinger | Independent |
| Councillor | Barry Stewart | Independent |
| Councillor | Lisa Tou-McNaughton | Independent |
| Mana whenua | Mike Bain | Waihōpai Rūnaka |
Community board
[edit]The council has created a local community board, under the provisions of Part 4 of the Local Government Act 2002,[10] to represent Bluff. The Bluff Community Board consists of five elected members[11] and two councillors appointed by the council.[9]
The community board is intended to provide advice to the city council regarding the interests of the Bluff community.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chair | Ray Fife |
| Board member | Jo Eruera |
| Board member | Frazer Murdoch |
| Board member | Haylee Simeon |
| Board member | Justin Sutherland |
Coat of arms
[edit]The city of Invercargill has a coat of arms, which was first proposed in 1956 for Invercargill’s centenary and granted by the Lord Lyon King of Arms on 25 July 1958.[12][13] The coat of arms is used as an official seal for the council.[14]
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Offices
[edit]
The Invercargill Town Hall and Civic Theatre, opened in November 1906, was initially built for the council. Previously the council had sat in what had been the Southland Provincial Council Chambers.[15]
Most of the city council staff left the Civic Theatre for newly built council offices in the 1960s, though the Council Chamber and committee room remain in use.[15]
Notable council members
[edit]- William Wood – former member of parliament, first Mayor of Invercargill 1871–1873
- James Walker Bain – former member of parliament, mayor 1891–1892
- William Denham – former member of parliament, councillor 1928–
- Tim Shadbolt – mayor 1993–1995 and 1998–2022
- Lesley Soper – former member of parliament, councillor 2016–
- Lloyd Esler QSM – natural history teacher, columnist, councillor 2010–2019
- Marcus Lush – television and radio presenter, councillor 2021–2022 and 2025–
See also
[edit]- Southland District Council – the council neighbouring Invercargill City Council
- Southland Regional Council – the regional council covering Invercargill
References
[edit]- ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Information on past Mayors of Invercargill City and the location of their headstones in the Invercargill Cemeteries" (PDF). icc.govt.nz. Invercargill City Council. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ↑ Cyclopedia Company Limited. "The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] | Borough Of Invercargill". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ↑ Grant, David (8 September 2008). "Southland places – Invercargill". teara.govt.nz. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 Grant, David (8 September 2008). "Southland region – Government, education and health". teara.govt.nz. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ↑ Friday Flashback - Invercargill Certified As A City, whatsoninvers.nz, 26 June 2026. Accessed 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Mana whenua representatives announced". Invercargill City Council. 1 October 2021.
- 1 2 Rosenberg, Matthew (25 March 2026). "'Dark cloud over this house': Invercargill council suspends mana whenua role". 1News.
- 1 2 "Mayor and Councillors". icc.govt.nz. Invercargill City Council.
- ↑ "Local Government Act 2002 No 84 (as at 01 July 2017)". www.legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ↑ "Bluff Community Board". icc.govt.nz. Invercargill City Council.
- ↑ Pollock, Kerryn (11 March 2010). "Invercargill symbols". teara.govt.nz. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ↑ McLintock, A. H. "Local". teara.govt.nz. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ↑ "Your Council". icc.govt.nz. Invercargill City Council. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- 1 2 "Town Hall and Civic Theatre". www.heritage.org.nz. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
Sources
[edit]- James, Katie; Thompson-Fawcett, Michelle; Hansen, Carsten Jahn (2016). "Transformations in identity, governance and planning: The case of the small city". Urban Studies. 53 (6): 1162–1177. doi:10.1177/0042098015571060. ISSN 0042-0980.