Upper Hutt City Council’s Local Governance Statement explains how the Council operates, how decisions are made, and how the public can participate in local democracy.
This statement is prepared under section 40 of the Local Government Act 2002 and applies to the 2025–2028 triennium following the triennial general election held in October 2025.
This webpage, together with the Statement prepared under section 40 of the Local Government Act 2002, forms Upper Hutt City Council's Local Governance Statement.
Purpose of this statement
Upper Hutt City Council exists to enable democratic local decision-making and to meet the current and future needs of its community for high-quality local infrastructure, public services, and regulatory functions in the most cost-effective way for households and businesses.
Council’s responsibilities include setting the long-term direction and priorities for the city, adopting budgets and setting rates, making bylaws and policies, delivering and funding local public services and infrastructure, carrying out regulatory functions, and monitoring organisational performance and stewardship of resources.
Services: Overview of Council functions, services, and responsibilities.
Elections and representation
Upper Hutt City Council consists of a Mayor and 10 councillors, all elected at large to represent the whole city.
The Council uses the First Past the Post electoral system for local elections. The electoral system may be changed in accordance with the Local Electoral Act 2001.
Upper Hutt City Council does not currently have Māori wards. The establishment of Māori wards or constituencies may be considered as part of a representation review or through a binding poll, as provided for in legislation.
Representation arrangements are reviewed at least once every six years in accordance with the Local Electoral Act 2001.
Elections: How local elections work and how to vote.
Representation Review: Wards, representation, and how arrangements are reviewed.
Roles and responsibilities of elected members
Elected members are responsible for the governance of the Council, including setting strategic direction, making decisions on policies, plans and budgets, representing the interests of the community, and ensuring accountability and transparency.
Elected members are required to act in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct and Standing Orders, and must comply with legislative requirements relating to conflicts of interest, ethical conduct, and good governance.
Elected members: The Mayor and councillors, their roles, and contact details.
Code of Conduct: Standards of behaviour and ethical expectations for elected members.
Governance structure and decision-making
Council makes decisions at meetings of Council and its committees. Meetings are generally open to the public, except where the law permits the public to be excluded for specific items.
Council may establish committees and other decision-making bodies and delegate authority to them in accordance with legislation.
Council’s governance structure, committee purposes, memberships, and delegations are set out in the Terms of Reference for the 2025–2028 triennium.
Council meetings: Meeting schedules, agendas, minutes, and public participation.
Terms of Reference(PDF, 838KB)
Management of the organisation
Council employs a Chief Executive, who is responsible for implementing Council decisions, providing advice to elected members, managing the organisation, and employing staff.
The Chief Executive is the only person who may lawfully give instructions to staff.
Executive Leadership Team: How the organisation is led and structured.
Community participation and consultation
Council seeks to engage with the community in a manner that is proportionate to the significance of the decisions being made, using a range of engagement and consultation approaches.
Council’s approach to consultation and engagement is guided by its Significance and Engagement Policy.
Let’s korero engagement hub: Current consultations and opportunities to provide feedback.
Significance and Engagement Policy: How and when the Council consults with the community.
Māori participation in decision-making
Council recognises the importance of Māori participation in decision-making and seeks to foster effective relationships with mana whenua and Māori organisations.
Council undertakes engagement with Māori in accordance with section 81 of the Local Government Act 2002 and other relevant legislation.
Strengthening Iwi Relationships: How the Council works with mana whenua and Māori organisations.
Plans, policies, bylaws, and local legislation
Council develops and reviews a range of plans, strategies, policies, and bylaws that guide decision-making and service delivery.
In addition to legislation that applies to all local authorities, Upper Hutt City Council is subject to certain local Acts of Parliament that confer powers or obligations specific to the city.
Our Policies and bylaws: Policies, bylaws, and related information.
Our plans, strategies and reports: Long Term Plan, annual plans, and other strategic documents.
Employment and workforce policies
Council has employment and workforce policies that support effective organisational performance, including a remuneration and employment policy (if adopted) and an equal employment opportunities policy.
Work with us: Workforce policies and employment information.
Official information and open meetings
Council is subject to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
Any person may request official information from Council. Requests are responded to as soon as reasonably practicable and no later than 20 working days, unless an extension applies.
Council meetings are generally open to the public, and information may only be withheld or meetings closed where the law allows.
If a requester is not satisfied with a decision on an official information request, they may ask the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate and review it.
Official Information Requests: How to request official information and your rights.
Attending and speaking at Council and committee meetings. Attending meetings and speaking at meetings.
Access to the Council and elected members
Council provides systems that enable the public to contact the Council and communicate with elected members.
Contact us: How to contact the Council
Our Elected Members: How to contact elected members.
Keeping this statement up-to-date
Council prepares a Local Governance Statement within six months after each triennial election and updates it as necessary to reflect changes in governance arrangements.
Last updated: January 2026
Governance note: Preparation and publication of the Local Governance Statement
The Local Governance Statement is a statutory information document prepared and published under section 40 of the Local Government Act 2002. The Act requires the statement to be made publicly available within six months of each triennial election and to be kept up to date. It does not require the statement to be formally adopted or approved by resolution of Council.
Accordingly, the Local Governance Statement is prepared administratively, quality-checked for compliance with section 40, and published without formal Council adoption. Adoption would not alter the legal status or effect of the statement, as it does not set policy, allocate funding, or delegate decision-making authority. The statement explains existing governance arrangements and links to authoritative sources.
This approach is consistent with the statutory intent of section 40 as a transparency and information mechanism, avoids unnecessary Council agenda items, and reflects proportionate and efficient governance practice.
Internal preparation and assurance process
- The statement is prepared by Governance.
- Governance confirms compliance with section 40 of the Local Government Act 2002 and consistency with standing orders, governance structures, delegations, and meeting processes.
- Legal Services undertakes a light-touch legal assurance review to confirm the statement accurately reflects legislative requirements and does not create unintended legal obligations.
- The Chief Executive approves the statement for publication.
- The statement is published on the Council’s website, supported by authoritative webpages.
The Local Governance Statement is updated administratively following each triennial election once compliance with section 40 is confirmed. A brief internal record is retained noting the preparation date, reviewers, Chief Executive approval, and publication date.
What the law says, in short
Council's governance arrangements are guided mainly by the:
- Local Government Act 2002
- Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
Together, these laws ensure:
- key decisions remain with the full Council
- committees can be delegated authority where permitted
- meetings are publicly notified
- agendas and reports are published in advance
- meetings are open to the public unless there is a lawful reason to exclude the public
- decisions and minutes are recorded and made available.
Role of elected members
Our elected members help shape the future of our city. While their role focused on governance, and not the day-to-day operations of Council, they are required to take part in a range of committees, panels, and working groups. These groups help set direction, oversee council performance, make regulatory decisions, and support community initiatives.
Watch the videos below as we get in conversation with our former Chief Executive, Geoff Swainson, on what it means to be working for Council as an elected member.
Upper Hutt City Council is the local government authority for Upper Hutt. It is responsible for making decisions on behalf of the community and providing leadership for the city.
Council is made up of Elected Members comprising of one Mayor and 10 Councillors, who are elected by the community to set direction, make decisions, and represent local interests.
Council is supported by Council officers (staff), who provide advice to elected members and deliver services, projects and programmes once decisions are made. Staff are led by the Chief Executive and the Executive Leadership Team.
Following the 2025 local elections, Upper Hutt City Council has updated how it works.
What's changed
- Council has delegated decision-making authority to committees, subcommittees and panels wherever the law allows.
- More decisions are now made at committee level, rather than returning to full Council.
- Full Council is focused on strategic leadership and major decisions required by law.
Why this matters
For the 2025–2028 term, Council has adopted a governance structure that delegates decision-making authority to committees, subcommittees and panels wherever the law allows.
This means:
- Full Council focuses on strategic leadership and major statutory decisions
- committees and panels make many decisions directly within agreed areas of responsibility
- decisions are made more efficiently, with clear accountability.
This approach supports transparent, effective decision-making while ensuring Council remains focused on the long-term wellbeing of Upper Hutt.
Council's Standing Orders(PDF, 2MB) remain in force and continue to govern how meetings are run. They may be reviewed later in the triennium, but they are not reset by a new election.
Local government focuses on issues that affect people and communities at a local level.
Upper Hutt City Council is responsible for a wide range of services and activities that support the wellbeing of the city, including:
- setting the city’s long-term direction through plans, strategies and policies
- managing essential infrastructure such as water, wastewater, stormwater, roads and waste services
- providing parks, reserves, libraries, pools, recreation facilities and community space
- supporting economic development, arts, culture and events
- delivering regulatory services such as building control, environmental health, animal management and licensing
- planning for emergencies and civil defence
- ensuring Council is financially responsible and accountable
These services are delivered by Council staff under the direction and decisions of elected members.
For the 2025–2028 triennium, Council has established the following groups of governance bodies. Membership, chairs and deputy chairs are set out in the adopted Terms of Reference(PDF, 838KB).
Council (the governing body)
The full Council sets the city's strategic direction and makes major decisions, including:
- Long Term Plan and Annual Plan
- rates and bylaws
- significant policies and strategies
- appointments to key roles
- matters that legislation says cannot be delegated.
Standing Committees of the Whole (decision-making bodies)
Council has established three standing committees made up of all Councillors. These committees have delegated authority to make decisions within their areas of responsibility:
- Long-Term Planning, Performance and Finance Subcommittee Oversees development of the Long Term Plan and Annual Plan, financial strategy, and governance-level performance monitoring.
- City Planning, Infrastructure and Environment Committee Makes strategic decisions on city planning, infrastructure, transport, environmental management and climate action (excluding hearings and regulatory decisions).
- Community and Economy Committee Makes decisions on community wellbeing, arts and culture, recreation, economic development, facilities and partnerships.
Statutory and specialist committees
Some committees are required by law or have specialist roles:
- Risk and Assurance Committee – advisory only Provides independent advice on risk, audit, assurance and compliance. It does not make decisions.
- Regulatory Processes Committee – decision-making body Makes statutory and quasi-judicial decisions on matters such as road stopping, traffic resolutions, reserves, naming and dog control.
- Chief Executive Committee – decision-making within delegation Oversees the performance and employment matters of the Chief Executive and makes recommendations to Council where required.
- District Licensing Committee – independent statutory decision-maker Determines alcohol licensing matters under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 and operates independently from Council.
Panels
Panels are established to make decisions within clearly defined delegations:
- Grants Panel - allocates Council-approved contestable grant funding.
- Creative Communities Scheme Assessment Panel - allocates Creative New Zealand funding independently of Council.
- Civic Awards Selection Panel – selects recipients of Civic Awards (reported to Council for noting).
Advisory working groups
Working groups support early thinking and provide advice only. They do not make decisions.
- Financial Strategy and Revenue Working Group
- Strategic Projects Oversight Working Group
Some issues affect more than one council or are required by law to be dealt with at a regional level. Upper Hutt City Council participates in a number of regional and joint committees, including those covering:
- transport planning
- emergency management
- water services
- waste management
- floodplain management
- regional growth and recovery.
These committees are:
- established by legislation or formal agreements between councils
- administered by the lead or host council or regional body
- governed by their own terms of reference, which sit outside Upper Hutt City Council’s control.
Council appoints representatives to these bodies at the start of each triennium to ensure Upper Hutt’s interests are represented at the regional table.
Regional Transport Committee (RTC)
Each region must have an RTC under the Land Transport Management Act 2003. RTCs prepare the Regional Land Transport Plan and related statutory work (for example, speed-management planning under current regulations). Membership typically draws from the regional council, territorial authorities and Waka Kotahi.
Wellington Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (CDEM Group)
Each region has a CDEM Group formed by the local authorities in the area. This is the table where councils coordinate emergency management planning and response. The purpose of the Wellington Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Group is to identify and mitigate hazards, respond to emergencies in partnership and in accordance with the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.
Hutt Valley Services (Joint) Committee
Councils can form joint committees by agreement. These are, in law, committees of each appointing council. The joint agreement sets who sits at the table, who chairs, and how decisions are made. The purpose of the Hutt Valley Services Joint Committee is to oversee the shared services affecting the Hutt Valley as a whole, particularly regarding the waste disposal services.
Wellington Regional Leadership Committee
(administered by Wellington Regional Leadership Committee under this Terms of reference).
The purpose of the Wellington Regional Leadership Committee is to take responsibility for key collective matters of regional importance, specifically the Wellington Regional Growth Framework, Regional Economic Development, and Regional Recovery.
Wellington Water Committee
(administered by Hutt City Council under this Terms of reference).
The purpose of the Wellington Water Committee is to oversee the planning, delivery and management of water services to communities serviced by Wellington Water Limited.
Wellington Region Waste Management and Minimisation Plan Joint Committee
(administered by Wellington City Council under this Terms of reference).
The purpose of the Wellington Region Waste Management and Minimisation Plan Joint Committee is to oversee the implementation of the Wellington Region Waste Management and Minimisation Plan and its statutory review.