Arts and culture
This portfolio influences the Council's involvement in art galleries and museums, public art, cultural and arts festivals, and our grants and subsidies that help keep a wide range of arts, theatre, music and dance organisations up and running. The portfolio also has an interest in the City Archives and heritage issues.
Portolio leader: Ray Ahipene-Mercer
Built environment
Concerned with how and where Wellington develops, the promotion and protection of our built heritage, the design of our buildings and houses and our public spaces, including the waterfront. This important and often-contentious portfolio has an overview of the city's interests and obligations under the Resource Management Act - most of which are outlined in our District Plan. The portfolio also covers building safety and standards - including the Council's earthquake-prone buildings policy.
Portfolio leader: Iona Pannett
Climate change
This portfolio covers the Council's responses to climate change and associated environmental and energy issues. Its interests include waste reduction and energy conservation and the Council's approach to carbon management.
Portfolio leader: Mayor Celia Wade-Brown
Community engagement
Designed to meet the Council's quest for community inclusiveness, this portfolio oversees our engagement policy - and has an interest in how the community is involved in Council business. The portfolio has responsibility for the Council's partnerships with Maori - especially the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust and Ngati Toa Rangatira. The Portfolio Leader represents the Council on a number of community groups and advisory groups and also forges relationships with the volunteer sector.
Portfolio leader: Paul Eagle
Community facilities
This portfolio has an overview of the Council's policies and spending on libraries, community centres and halls, recreation programmes and our approach to making these facilities as accessible to as many people as possible.
Portfolio leader: Justin Lester
Economy
This portfolio covers business and economics - ranging from guiding the Council's overall economic development policy, our international relations and tourism promotion both nationally and internationally, to such 'detail' issues as our approach to trading in public places and weekend parking in the central city. The portfolio also has an interest in the Council's sponsorship of Te Papa, the Council's conference and concert venues, and the vitality of our suburban commercial centres.
Portfolio leader: Jo Coughlan
Emergency management
The City Council has statutory responsibility, under the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Act, to prepare Wellington for a response to a major earthquake or other natural or man-made disaster. This includes raising awareness among Wellington residents about the need to store water, food and other emergency provisions. The Council is also working to strengthen the city's emergency volunteer network. This portfolio aims to assist all of these initiatives.
Portfolio leader: Mayor Celia Wade-Brown
Finance
This important portfolio has an overview of all of the Council's financial affairs and interests - and therefore has an impact on all other portfolios. It includes rates policy, investments and spending priorities (including the Annual Plan) and financial reporting.
Portfolio leader: Mayor Celia Wade-Brown
Governance
This portfolio is concerned with the people who 'govern' the city - the Mayor and Councillors themselves. It guides reviews of the Council's Standing Orders - our rules of engagement for meetings. It also guides the way elections are held and has an interest in how many members are on the Council and how much they are paid. It also has an overview of the appointment of Wellington residents to the boards of Council-controlled organisations.
Portfolio leader: Ian McKinnon
Information and communications technology
The Council has an essential and leading role in the promotion and installation of new technology in the city and region - we want Wellington to stay at the forefront of information and communications technology (ICT) evolution so we can stay internationally-competitive. This portfolio covers the Council's interest in the introduction of ultra-fast broadband and in supporting the region's ICT and creative industries.
Portfolio leader: Mayor Celia Wade-Brown
Natural environment
This portfolio covers our coastline, beaches, parks and reserves. It includes the Town Belt, our botanic gardens, the Zoo, the Zealandia sanctuary and the huge areas of rural land inside the city boundaries. It is concerned with planning and planting, conservation, pest-plant control and other initiatives aimed at enhancing the city's environment and biodiversity. It also deals with environmental grants, bequests and other community spending.
Portfolio leader: Helene Ritchie
Social
This wide-ranging portfolio has a strong 'cradle-to-grave' community service and safety focus. It includes an overview of the Council's approach to the provision of affordable rental housing. It also deals with issues like homelessness, alcohol and gambling policies. It concerns early-childhood centres - and the Council's approach to senior citizens. It has an interest in crime prevention and city safety, public health, dog control - and burials, cremations and the operation of our cemeteries.
Portfolio leader: Stephanie Cook
Sports and events
A wide-ranging portfolio that concerns itself with keeping Wellingtonians fit and active - and with maintaining the city's reputation as the 'Events Capital'. This portfolio concerns itself with swimming pools, Council recreation centres, marinas and the highly-contentious subject of sportsfields - including the ongoing debate over the introduction of more artificial pitches. The portfolio also deals with the Council's interests in attracting large-scale events for the benefit of the city's economy and reputation.
Portfolio leader: John Morrison
Three waters and waste
This portfolio oversees some of the Council's most important responsibilities - safely and sustainably dealing with the 'three waters' - the supply of clean drinking water, the safe removal and treatment of wastewater, and control of stormwater. It also has an overview of rubbish and recycling, including the operation of the Council's Southern Landfill, our joint interest in the Spicer Landfill at Porirua, the treatment of our 'closed' landfills, and litter control. The portfolio also has an overview of the Council's quarrying operations and interests.
Portfolio leader: Ngaire Best
Transport (public transport and roads)
One of the Council's most important and big-spending portfolios, it includes representing the Council's interests and concerns in transport planning and spending at a regional and national level. It advocates for improved public transport and the management of travel demand - including along the crucial Ngauranga to Airport Corridor. It also includes resealing policy, tunnel and bridge improvements and choosing names for new roads.
Portfolio leader: Andy Foster
Walking, cycling, motorcycling and safety
This portfolio addresses the transport networks of our City. It's about improving and maintaining cycleways and the pedestrian network. This includes street lighting, footpath extensions, motorbike parking improvements, and fence and guard rail renewal. The portfolio also focuses on cycle and pedestrian safety in our city, such as speed limits, road safety education and promotion.
Portfolio leader: Bryan Pepperell