The counties of New Zealand were the administrative divisions representing the country's rural areas, existing from the abolition of the provinces in 1876 until the major local government reforms of 1989. They were governed by county councils and existed alongside the country's boroughs, town districts, and other administrative divisions.
History
From 1853 until 1876, New Zealand had a semi-federal system of provinces. Each province had its own legislature and superintendent. These provinces set up their own local boards and councils. The provinces were abolished on 1 November 1876, following the passage of the Abolition of the Provinces Act 1876.
The original Counties Bill intended to merge 314 road boards into 39 counties; however, as a result of lobbying, the final Counties Act 1876 as passed created 63 counties.
The Local Government Act 1974 sought to rationalise local government, attempting to tackle the problem whilst dealing with staunchly independent local authorities.
Powers and responsibilities
County councils mainly concerned themselves with providing roads and controlling rivers and other waterways. These services were paid for by rates on property and government loans and subsidies.
List of counties
{| class="wikitable sortable col1left" style="text-align:center"
|+
!County
!Established
!Abolished
!Existed for
!Successor
|-
|Mangonui County
|1 November 1876
|1 November 1989
|113 years
|Far North District
|1 November 1989
|97 years
|Waitemata CityTakapuna CityRodney County
|79 years
|Auckland City
|1 November 1989
|1 November 1989
|88 years
|Manukau City
|1 November 1989
|98 years
|Thames-Coromandel District
|1 November 1989
|1 November 1989
|1 April 1976
|71 years
|Waitomo District
|1 April 1922
|1 December 1988
|66 years
|Taupo District
|1 April 1965
|45 years
|Waiapu County
|1 November 1986
|87 years
|Opotiki District
|92 years
|Rotorua District
|79 years
|Otorohanga County
|99 years
|Whakatane District
|1 November 1989
|1 November 1989
|1 April 1964
|45 years
|Cook County
|109 years
|Wairoa District
|101 years
|Waipawa District
|1 April 1977
|69 years
|Waipukurau District
|88 years
|Waipukurau County
|1 November 1989
|109 years
|North Taranaki District
|2 November 1955
|47 years
|Stratford County
|11 October 1986
|66 years
|Inglewood District
|8 August 1956
|45 years
|Taumarunui County
|1 April 1989
|98 years
|Stratford District
|1 October 1987
|78 years
|Waimate Plains District
|15 October 1986
|79 years
|Eltham District
|97 years
|Hawera District
|110 years
|Patea District
|104 years
|Wanganui County
|-
|Ohura County
|10 October 1908
|8 August 1956
|57 years
|Otorohanga District
|1 April 1988
|85 years
|Waimarino District
|111 years
|Manawatu District
|1 April 1988
|1 November 1989
|1 November 1989
|1 November 1989
|5 May 1989
|87 years
|Woodville District
|28 April 1987
|79 years
|Dannevirke District
|1 April 1956
|53 years
|Dannevirke County
|1 November 1989
|1 November 1989
|1 April 1976
|77 years
|Dannevirke County
|12 May 1965
|65 years
|Masterton County
|1 April 1958
|57 years
|Masterton County
|112 years
|Porirua CityUpper Hutt CityWainuiomata District
|31 August 1962
|54 years
|Porirua CityHutt County
|1 April 1989
|88 years
|Masterton District
|112 years
|Carterton District
|1 November 1989
|88 years
|Marlborough County
|1 November 1989
|112 years
|Tasman District
|8 October 1956
|1 April 1976
|64 years
|Marlborough County
|31 March 1965
|55 years
|Waimea County
|1 November 1989
|1 November 1989
|2 May 1977
|56 years
|Ashley County
|77 years
|Rangiora District
|66 years
|Rangiora District
|1 November 1989
|1 April 1982
|72 years
|Waimairi District
|57 years
|Paparua County
|1 November 1989
|1 November 1989
|52 years
|Ellesmere County
|87 years
|Malvern County
|1 April 1967
|57 years
|Malvern County
|1 November 1989
|1 September 1974
|113 years
|Waimate District
|1 November 1989
|91 years
|Dunedin City
|110 years
|Bruce District
|110 years
|Queenstown-Lakes District
|104 years
|Wallace County
|1 November 1995
|93 years
|Chatham Islands Territory