{{Short description|Territorial authority of New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox legislature | name = Upper Hutt City Council | native_name = ''Te Kaunihera o Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta'' | native_name_lang = mi | legislature = | coa_pic = File:Upper Hutt CoA.svg | coa_res = 150 | coa_alt = | coa_caption = | logo_pic = File:Upper Hutt City Council logo.png | logo_res = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | house_type = City council | houses = | jurisdiction = Upper Hutt | term_limits = None | foundation = | preceded_by = | new_session = | leader1_type = [[Mayor of Upper Hutt|Mayor]] | leader1 = {{NZ officeholder data|Upper Hutt City Mayor|y||}} | leader1_term = | party1 = | election1 = | leader2_type = Deputy Mayor | leader2 = Corey White | party2 = | election2 = | leader2_term = | leader3_type = Chief Executive | leader3 = Geoff Swainson<ref name="council">{{cite web |title=Our Elected Members and Executive Leadership Team |url=https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/Council/About-Your-Council/Elected-members-ELT |website=www.upperhutt.govt.nz |publisher=Upper Hutt City Council |access-date=8 March 2026 |language=en-AU}}</ref> | members = 11<ref group="lower-alpha">One mayor, 10 councillors</ref> | political_groups1 = {{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (11) | house1 = | committees1 = | term_length = 3 years | voting_system1 = [[First past the post|FPP]] | first_election1 = | last_election1 = [[2025 Upper Hutt City Council election|11 October 2025]] | next_election1 = 2028 | motto = | meeting_place = Upper Hutt Civic Centre, 838–842 Fergusson Drive | website = {{URL|https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/}} | footnotes = {{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}} }}
The '''Upper Hutt City Council''' ({{langx|mi|Te Kaunihera o Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Our logo and bilingual branding |url=https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/Welcome/brand-story#section-2 |website=www.upperhutt.govt.nz |publisher=Upper Hutt City Council |access-date=8 March 2026 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>) is the [[territorial authorities of New Zealand|territorial authority]] for the city of [[Upper Hutt]], [[New Zealand]].
The council is made up of a [[Mayor of Upper Hutt|mayor]] elected and 10 councillors elected [[at-large]]. They are elected using a [[first past the post]] system in [[Local elections in New Zealand|triennial elections]], with the most recent election being held in [[2025 Upper Hutt City Council election|2025]].
The current mayor is {{NZ officeholder data|Upper Hutt City Mayor|y||}}.
==History== Upper Hutt was originally administered by the [[Hutt County Council]], which was constituted in 1877. The Upper Hutt Town Board was proclaimed on 24 April 1908, consisting of 7 elected commissioners. In 1926, the town board was replaced by a borough council.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maclean |first1=Chris |title=Wellington region – Government |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/wellington-region/page-13 |website=teara.govt.nz |publisher=[[Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=8 March 2026 |language=en |date=1 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="natlib">{{cite web |title=Upper Hutt (N.Z.). City Council |url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22489201 |website=natlib.govt.nz |publisher=[[National Library of New Zealand]] |access-date=10 March 2026}}</ref> Angus McCurdy, a former town clerk and town board commissioner, was elected as the first mayor of Upper Hutt Borough Council.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Making of a Modern Town: 1900-1945 |url=https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/Welcome/Our-History/1900-to-1945 |website=www.upperhutt.govt.nz |publisher=Upper Hutt City Council |access-date=8 March 2026 |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref name="natlib"/>
Following the Second World War, the population of Upper Hutt underwent a major boom and in late 1965 the [[Statistics New Zealand|Government Statistician]] informed the borough council that they had reached the population prerequisite to gain city status. On 28 May 1966, Upper Hutt was proclaimed to be a city by [[Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor-general]] [[Bernard Fergusson, Baron Ballantrae|Sir Bernard Fergusson]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Becoming a city: 1945-2000 |url=https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/Welcome/Our-History/1945-to-2000 |website=www.upperhutt.govt.nz |publisher=Upper Hutt City Council |access-date=8 March 2026 |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Maclean |first1=Chris |title=Wellington places – Upper Hutt |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/wellington-places/page-10 |website=teara.govt.nz |publisher=[[Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=8 March 2026 |language=en |date=1 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="natlib"/>
Later in 1966, the city council applied to the [[New Zealand Geographic Board]] to change the name of the city to [[Trentham, New Zealand|Trentham]], but withdrew their application following an opinion poll indicating that residents were in favour of retaining the name Upper Hutt for the city.<ref>{{cite news |title=Upper Hutt To Retain Name |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19660826.2.81.3 |access-date=11 March 2026 |work=Press |via=[[Papers Past]] |volume=CVI |issue=31148 |date=26 August 1966 |page=6}}</ref> A name change had also been considered by the then borough council in 1940 to distinguish itself from [[Hutt City Council]],<ref>{{cite news |title=CHANGE OPPOSED |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19401219.2.14? |access-date=11 March 2026 |work=Evening Post |via=[[Papers Past]] |volume=CXXX |issue=148 |date=19 December 1940 |page=6}}</ref> and in the 2000s there was another short-lived campaign to change the city's name to Trentham for the same reason.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tso |first1=Matthew |title=Charity work for horses involved in Upper Hutt renaming plot |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/103555037/charity-work-for-horses-involved-in-upper-hutt-renaming-plot |access-date=11 March 2026 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=4 May 2018}}</ref>
On 1 April 1973, the Rimutaka Riding of [[Hutt County]] was added to the city.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maclean |first1=Chris |title=The break-up of Hutt County |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/13369/the-break-up-of-hutt-county |website=teara.govt.nz |publisher=[[Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=8 March 2026 |language=en |date=1 August 2015}}</ref> When the Hutt County Council was abolished on 1 November 1988, the city took over administration of the Heretaunga/Pinehaven ward,<ref>{{cite news |title=Hutt County Abolition Order 1988 - Part II Hutt County and Upper Hutt City |url=https://www.nzlii.org/nz/other/nz_gazette/1988/190.pdf |access-date=8 March 2026 |work=[[New Zealand Gazette]] |issue=190 |date=10 November 1988 |pages=4520–4521}}</ref> which was incorporated into the city with the [[1989 New Zealand local government reforms|local government reforms]] on 1 November 1989 when the Heretaunga/Pinehaven Community Council was abolished.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.upperhuttcity.com/page/306/LocalgovernmentinUpperHutt.boss | title=History of our city: Local Government in Upper Hutt| publisher=Upper Hutt City Council | access-date=12 January 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309164155/http://www.upperhuttcity.com/page/306/LocalgovernmentinUpperHutt.boss | archive-date=9 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="natlib"/>
In November 2023, the council voted by six to five to introduce a [[Māori wards and constituencies|Māori ward]] for the [[2025 Upper Hutt City Council election|2025]] and 2028 elections.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boyack |first1=Nicholas |title=Upper Hutt councillors narrowly supported Māori ward |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350105077/upper-hutt-councillors-narrowly-supported-maori-ward |access-date=3 June 2025 |work=The Post |date=7 November 2023}}</ref> However, following [[Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024|a change in legislation regarding Māori wards]], the council voted in August 2024 to rescind this decision. It thus avoided a requirement to hold [[2025 New Zealand local referendums on Māori wards and constituencies|a referendum on retaining the ward]] alongside the 2025 election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ellis |first1=Moana |title=Controversial law spurs wave of support for Māori seats, triggers mass polls |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/526651/controversial-law-spurs-wave-of-support-for-maori-seats-triggers-mass-polls |access-date=3 June 2025 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=30 August 2024 |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Maxwell |first1=Joel |title='Most will be disestablished': Pera Paniora on Māori wards and brutal referendum truth |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360610216/most-will-be-disestablished-pera-paniora-maori-wards-and-brutal-referendum-truth |access-date=3 June 2025 |work=www.stuff.co.nz |date=13 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Perese |first1=Daniel |last2=Manza |first2=Anastasia |title=The Māori ward that never was: Upper Hutt's lost chance in the local elections |url=https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2025/10/30/the-maori-ward-that-never-was-upper-hutts-lost-chance-in-the-local-elections/ |access-date=14 March 2026 |work=[[Te Ao Māori News]] |date=30 October 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
==Composition== The elected mayor and councillors provide governance for the city by setting the strategic direction and making decisions on policies, plans and budgets for the council, representing the city's interests, ensuring accountability and transparency, and employing the Chief Executive.<ref name="governance">{{cite web |title=Governance and representation |url=https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/Council/About-Your-Council/Governance-representation |website=www.upperhutt.govt.nz |publisher=Upper Hutt City Council |access-date=8 March 2026 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
The Chief Executive is in charge of the providing advice to the council and implementing their decisions, administration of the council and employing all other council staff to achieve its strategic priorities.<ref name="governance"/>
===Current councillors=== The present council was elected in the [[2025 Upper Hutt City Council election|2025 local elections]], in which Peri Zee unseated incumbent mayor of 24 years [[Wayne Guppy]], who had been seeking a ninth term in office.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Crimp |first1=Lauren |title='Democracy has spoken': Wayne Guppy on the almost-certain end to his 24-year mayoralty |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/575721/democracy-has-spoken-wayne-guppy-on-the-almost-certain-end-to-his-24-year-mayoralty |access-date=14 March 2026 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=13 October 2025 |language=en-nz}}</ref> Zee is the second female mayor for Upper Hutt, following Doris Nicholson who had been mayor from 1970-1977.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Justin |title=The long game to unseat a 24-year incumbent |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360852404/long-game-unseat-24-year-incumbent |access-date=14 March 2026 |work=The Post |date=16 October 2025}}</ref> Newly elected councillor Gurpreet Dhillon is the first Upper Hutt councillor to be of South Asian and Indian origin.<ref>{{cite news |title=Meet the Asian councillors 'honoured' to have secured a seat at the table |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/chinese/576444/meet-the-asian-councillors-honoured-to-have-secured-a-seat-at-the-table |access-date=14 March 2026 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=20 October 2025}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |+ Upper Hutt City Council, 2025–2028<ref name="council"/><ref>{{cite web |title=2025 Triennial Elections DECLARATION OF RESULT |url=https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/files/assets/public/v/1/elections/vote-2025/upper-hutt-city-council-2025-triennial-elections-declaration-of-result.pdf |website=www.upperhutt.govt.nz |publisher=Upper Hutt City Council |access-date=8 March 2026}}</ref> |- ! Position ! Name ! colspan="2" | [[Local elections in New Zealand#Candidate affiliations|Affiliation]] |- |[[Mayor of Upper Hutt|Mayor]] |Peri Zee |bgcolor="{{party color|Independent}}" | |None |- |Deputy mayor |Corey White |bgcolor="{{party color|Independent}}" | |[[Independent politician|Independent]] |- |Councillor |Angela McLeod |bgcolor="{{party color|Independent}}" | |None |- |Councillor |Bill Hammond |bgcolor="{{party color|Independent}}" | |Independent |- |Councillor |Daniel Welch |bgcolor="{{party color|Independent}}" | |Backing the Future of Upper Hutt |- |Councillor |Dave Wheeler |bgcolor="{{party color|Independent}}" | |None |- |Councillor |Emma Holderness |bgcolor="{{party color|Independent}}" | |Independent |- |Councillor |Gurpreet Dhillon |bgcolor="{{party color|Independent}}" | |None |- |Councillor |Hellen Swales |bgcolor="{{party color|Independent}}" | |The voice you deserve |- |Councillor |Matt Carey |bgcolor="{{party color|Independent}}" | |Independent |- |Councillor |Tracey Ultra |bgcolor="{{party color|Independent}}" | |Independent |}
==Civic symbols== ===Coat of arms=== Upper Hutt City was granted a [[Achievement (heraldry)|coat of arms]] by the [[College of Arms|Royal College of Arms]] in 1978.<ref name="arms and flag">{{cite web |title=The story behind us |url=https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/Welcome/brand-story#section-1 |website=www.upperhutt.govt.nz |publisher=Upper Hutt City Council |access-date=8 March 2026 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
{{Emblem table | name = Upper Hutt<ref>{{cite web |author1=College of Arms |author1-link=College of Arms |title=Grant of arms to the City of Upper Hutt letters patent |url=https://archive.org/details/UH_blazon |website=[[Internet Archive]] |access-date=8 March 2026 |date=1978}}</ref> | image = File:Upper Hutt CoA.svg | imagesize = | notes = | year_adopted = | coronet = | crest = ''On a [[Torse|wreath]] of the colours in front of a rock a [[New Zealand falcon]] (Falco novaeseelandiae) [[Attitude (heraldry)#Close|standing]] on its nest all [[Tincture (heraldry)#Proper|proper]].'' | torse = | helm = | escutcheon = ''[[Argent]] a [[fess]] wavy [[Azure (heraldry)|azure]] between in chief two [[Kererū|New Zealand pigeons]] (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) [[Attitude (heraldry)#Combatant or respectant|respectant]] and in base a [[Podocarpus totara|tōtara tree]] (Podocarpus totara) couped proper.'' | compartment = | motto = {{lang|la|Nihil altius pulchriusue}} ("Nothing higher nor more beautiful") | orders = | other_elements = | bannerimage = | banner = | badgeimage = | badge = | symbolism = The wavy blue bar in the centre of the shield ("''fess wavy azure''") represents the [[Hutt River (New Zealand)|Hutt River]]. The kārearea and kererū represent early bird life in the Upper Hutt Valley, while the tōtara represents the valley's original vegetation.<ref name="arms and flag"/> | previous_versions = | other_versions = }}
===Badge=== The College of Arms also granted the council a [[Heraldic badge|badge]], consisting of a gold chain encircling a [[New Zealand fantail]], tail erect and expanded, perched on a twig. The council uses the badge in less formal contexts than the coat of arms.<ref name="arms and flag"/>
===Flag=== [[File:Flag of Upper Hutt City.svg|thumb|Flag of Upper Hutt]] With the consent of the [[New Zealand Herald Extraordinary]], the council adopted a flag in 1982. The flag consists of the shield of the city's coat of arms over a gold cross and a maroon field (the city's colours).<ref name="arms and flag"/>
==Notable council members== *[[Harry Kent (cyclist)|Harry Kent]] – Olympic cyclist, elected to council in the 1977 local elections<ref>{{cite news |title=Many women successful in council elections |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19771010.2.9 |access-date=11 March 2026 |work=Press |via=[[Papers Past]] |date=10 October 1977 |page=1}}</ref> and served for 9 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=HARRY KENT |url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/upper-hutt-leader/20160921/281560880265133 |access-date=11 March 2026 |work=Upper Hutt Leader |agency=PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions |date=21 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921000247/https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/upper-hutt-leader/20160921/281560880265133 |archive-date=21 September 2017}}</ref> *[[Peter McCardle]] – Member of Parliament from 1990 to 1999, councillor from 2001 to 2013 *[[Gregor W. Yeates]] – soil zoologist and ecologist, councillor from 1973 to 1977
==See also== * Territorial authorities bordering Upper Hutt City Council: ** [[Hutt City Council]] ** [[Porirua City Council]] ** [[Kāpiti Coast District Council]] ** [[South Wairarapa District Council]] * [[Greater Wellington Regional Council]] – the regional council covering Upper Hutt
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/ Official website]
{{Territorial Authorities of New Zealand}} {{Upper Hutt}}
[[Category:Politics of the Wellington Region]] [[Category:City councils in New Zealand]] [[Category:Upper Hutt]]