Council History
This page gives historical information of Whakatane District Council dating back to its formation in 1876.
The first Whakatane County Council was formed in 1876 and covered generally the areas of the present Opotiki and Whakatane Districts.
In 1900 this Council split and became the Opotiki County Council and the second Whakatane County Council. The second Whakatane County Council took care of all Local Government matters until 1917, when the Whakatane Borough Council and the third Whakatane County Council were formed. These two bodies, together with the Whakatane Harbour Board, amalgamated in 1976 to become the Whakatane District Council.
In 1989, pursuant to the Local Government re-organisation undertaken at that time, the Whakatane District Council amalgamated with the Murupara Borough Council and also took into its District a portion of the Opotiki District in the Waimana/Nukuhou area and a portion of the Taupo District comprising a large part of the Kaingaroa Forest. Read more