Government budget and revenue in Wellington, New Zealand: official figures
Greater Wellington Regional Council had total operating income of NZ$647 million in the year ended June 2025 and total operating expenditure of NZ$645 million, an operating surplus of NZ$1.8 million. As a regional council it does not run local roads, water or rubbish services, which belong to the district and city councils in the region.
How much does Greater Wellington Regional Council collect in rates?
Greater Wellington Regional Council collected NZ$254 million in rates in the year ended June 2025, 39% of its operating income. That is NZ$467 for each resident of Wellington (using the June 2025 population estimate), 6th highest of 16 councils.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyIs the budget of Greater Wellington Regional Council growing?
Operating income of Greater Wellington Regional Council rose 17.8% from NZ$549 million in the year to June 2024 to NZ$647 million in the year to June 2025. Employee costs were NZ$101 million, 16% of operating expenditure.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much debt does Greater Wellington Regional Council have?
Greater Wellington Regional Council had term debt of NZ$965 million at June 2025, or NZ$1,776 per resident of Wellington (6th highest of 16 councils). Its total assets were NZ$2,694 million and its equity NZ$1,415 million.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat does Greater Wellington Regional Council spend money on?
The activities on which Greater Wellington Regional Council spent most in the year ended June 2025 (operating expenditure) were transportation (NZ$358 million), environmental protection (NZ$138 million), water supply (NZ$58.4 million). Stats NZ allocates spending by activity, so costs that cannot be assigned to one activity sit under other categories.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much does Greater Wellington Regional Council receive per resident?
Greater Wellington Regional Council had operating income of NZ$1,190 per resident of Wellington in the year ended June 2025, 6th highest of 16 councils. Current grants and subsidies were NZ$198 million.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Wellington compares with other regions
Council operating income, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Wellington ranks 2 of 16, highest first. The regional council, or the unitary council where one council covers the whole region.
| Rank | Region | Council operating income, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | NZ$3,744m |
| 2 | Wellington | NZ$647m |
| 3 | Canterbury | NZ$324m |
| 4 | Bay of Plenty | NZ$215m |
| 5 | Waikato | NZ$209m |
| 6 | Marlborough | NZ$187m |
| 7 | Tasman | NZ$182m |
Council rates per resident, year ended June 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Wellington ranks 6 of 16, highest first. Regional councils collect rates for regional functions only; unitary councils (Auckland, Gisborne, Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough) also do district functions.
| Rank | Region | Council rates per resident, year ended June 2025 (NZ$) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Tasman | NZ$1,638 |
| 4 | Gisborne | NZ$1,633 |
| 5 | Auckland | NZ$1,536 |
| 6 | Wellington | NZ$467 |
| 7 | West Coast | NZ$341 |
| 8 | Canterbury | NZ$283 |
| 9 | Southland | NZ$277 |
Council term debt per resident, June 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Wellington ranks 6 of 16, highest first. Regional councils collect rates for regional functions only; unitary councils also do district functions.
| Rank | Region | Council term debt per resident, June 2025 (NZ$) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Nelson | NZ$4,420 |
| 4 | Marlborough | NZ$3,864 |
| 5 | Gisborne | NZ$3,261 |
| 6 | Wellington | NZ$1,776 |
| 7 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$629 |
| 8 | Bay of Plenty | NZ$476 |
| 9 | West Coast | NZ$442 |
Council operating surplus or deficit, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Wellington ranks 7 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Council operating surplus or deficit, year ended June 2025 (NZ$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Canterbury | NZ$12.0m |
| 5 | Northland | NZ$6.5m |
| 6 | Otago | NZ$2.8m |
| 7 | Wellington | NZ$1.8m |
| 8 | Southland | NZ$0.6m |
| 9 | Nelson | NZ$-1.1m |
| 10 | Taranaki | NZ$-3.9m |
More on Wellington: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · New Zealand
Sources
- Stats NZ: Local authority financial statistics: Year ended June 2025 (income and expenditure, by activity, financial position; nalafs-jun2025-tables-csv.csv), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b12af625c966…)
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