Council Financial Rankings
Compare financial health scores for NZ councils
Total Councils
32
Average Score
61.9
Tier 1 - Excellent
0
Tier 2 - Good
6
Tier 3 - Acceptable
19
Tier 4 - Concern
7
Scoring Methodology
Scores are calculated using Stats NZ Local Authority Financial Statistics based on five weighted dimensions:
| Rank | Council | Peer Group | Score | Tier | Solvency | Operational | Liquidity | Debt/Revenue | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kaikoura District Council | Rural(#1/15) | 77.0 | T2: Good | 80 | 88 | 65 | 49% | $7M |
| #2 | Carterton District Council | Rural(#2/15) | 73.3 | T2: Good | 80 | 73 | 95 | 65% | $25M |
| #3 | Buller District Council | Rural(#3/15) | 72.5 | T2: Good | 75 | 88 | 60 | 214% | $42M |
| #4 | Kaipara District Council | Rural(#4/15) | 72.5 | T2: Good | 80 | 73 | 73 | 82% | $54M |
| #5 | Hurunui District Council | Rural(#5/15) | 72.3 | T2: Good | 90 | 88 | 39 | 231% | $67M |
| #6 | Invercargill City Council | Provincial(#1/2) | 72.1 | T2: Good | 70 | 88 | 67 | 170% | $152M |
| #7 | Gisborne District Council | Unitary(#1/2) | 68.0 | T3: Acceptable | 75 | 88 | 60 | 177% | $178M |
| #8 | Kapiti Coast District Council | Rural(#6/15) | 67.2 | T3: Acceptable | 65 | 73 | 68 | 301% | $320M |
| #9 | Christchurch City Council | Large Metro(#1/4) | 67.0 | T3: Acceptable | 51 | 88 | 52 | 359% | $2.6B |
| #10 | Grey District Council | Rural(#7/15) | 66.8 | T3: Acceptable | 80 | 73 | 52 | 134% | $33M |
| #11 | Canterbury Regional Council | Regional(#1/4) | 66.7 | T3: Acceptable | 80 | 73 | 88 | 39% | $97M |
| #12 | Ashburton District Council | Rural(#8/15) | 66.1 | T3: Acceptable | 70 | 73 | 60 | 241% | $131M |
| #13 | Chatham Islands Council | Unitary(#2/2) | 66.1 | T3: Acceptable | 80 | 73 | 40 | -37% | $109K |
| #14 | Central Otago District Council | Rural(#9/15) | 64.7 | T3: Acceptable | 80 | 73 | 73 | 48% | $35M |
| #15 | Hauraki District Council | Rural(#10/15) | 63.4 | T3: Acceptable | 70 | 73 | 80 | 194% | $100M |
| #16 | Central Hawkes Bay District Council | Rural(#11/15) | 62.1 | T3: Acceptable | 80 | 73 | 52 | 139% | $45M |
| #17 | Dunedin City Council | Large Metro(#2/4) | 61.5 | T3: Acceptable | 65 | 88 | 40 | 288% | $595M |
| #18 | Far North District Council | Rural(#12/15) | 61.5 | T3: Acceptable | 80 | 73 | 39 | 118% | $131M |
| #19 | Horowhenua District Council | Rural(#13/15) | 61.1 | T3: Acceptable | 65 | 73 | 67 | 327% | $202M |
| #20 | Bay of Plenty Regional Council | Regional(#2/4) | 60.8 | T3: Acceptable | 60 | 73 | 67 | 280% | $267M |
| #21 | Hutt City Council | Large Metro(#3/4) | 60.8 | T3: Acceptable | 65 | 73 | 53 | 308% | $511M |
| #22 | Gore District Council | Rural(#14/15) | 60.6 | T3: Acceptable | 75 | 73 | 52 | 231% | $55M |
| #23 | Hamilton City Council | Large Metro(#4/4) | 60.6 | T3: Acceptable | 53 | 73 | 80 | 356% | $1.1B |
| #24 | Hastings District Council | Provincial(#2/2) | 58.2 | T3: Acceptable | 65 | 73 | 39 | 343% | $394M |
| #25 | Clutha District Council | Rural(#15/15) | 57.3 | T3: Acceptable | 52 | 73 | 53 | 365% | $123M |
| #26 | Hawkes Bay Regional Council | Regional(#3/4) | 53.3 | T4: Concern | 70 | 73 | 67 | 165% | $130M |
| #27 | Auckland City Council | Other(#1/4) | 50.0 | T4: Concern | 50 | 50 | 50 | -% | $0 |
| #28 | Auckland Regional Council | Other(#2/4) | 50.0 | T4: Concern | 50 | 50 | 50 | -% | $0 |
| #29 | Banks Peninsula District Council | Other(#3/4) | 50.0 | T4: Concern | 50 | 50 | 50 | -% | $0 |
| #30 | Franklin District Council | Other(#4/4) | 50.0 | T4: Concern | 50 | 50 | 50 | -% | $0 |
| #31 | Greater Wellington Regional Council | Regional(#4/4) | 45.7 | T4: Concern | 23 | 73 | 65 | 485% | $1.0B |
| #32 | Auckland Council | Auckland Council Group(#1/1) | 41.4 | T4: Concern | 43 | 39 | 59 | 482% | $12.7B |
Source: Stats NZ Local Authority Financial Statistics (2024). Scoring methodology based on DIA financial prudence benchmarks. Currently showing 32 of 78 councils. Full coverage coming soon.
Data sourced from Local government transparency disclosures and Remuneration Authority data. Our datasets may not be complete. Automated analysis can produce errors. If you believe any data on this page is incorrect, please contact us at hello@nzxplorer.co.nz.
For informational purposes only. Not investment advice.