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.
History
A borough council was formed for Napier in 26 November 1874. The borough council gained city status on 18 March 1950. The borough of Taradale merged with Napier on 1 April 1968. In 1989, the city council was abolished and replaced with a new authority of the same name.
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: RolePortraitNameAffiliationWardMayorRichard McGrath IndependentElected at largeDeputyGraeme Taylor IndependentTaradaleCouncillorRoger Brownlie IndependentAhuririCouncillorKeith Price IndependentAhuririCouncillorSally Crown IndependentAhuririCouncillorGreg Mawson IndependentNapier CentralCouncillorCraig Morley IndependentNapier CentralCouncillorTe Kira Lawrence IndependentNapier CentralCouncillorRonda Chrystal IndependentTaradaleCouncillorNigel Simpson IndependentTaradaleCouncillorShyann Raihania IndependentTe Whanga MāoriCouncillorWhare Isaac-Sharland IndependentTe Whanga Māori
Wards The authority has four wards, including three general (Ahuriri, Napier Central, and Taradale) and one Māori ward (Te Whanga).
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.
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).
Taradale general ward covers Greenmeadows, Taradale and the western part of Meeanee.
Te Whanga is the Māori ward and covers the entire city.
Elections List Council
Mayoral
Coat of arms
References