New Zealand has 16 regional and unitary councils. As a collective, Te Uru Kahika – Regional and Unitary Councils Aotearoa works together to apply its expertise and local knowledge for the wellbeing of our environments and communities.
These 16 councils are charged with the integrated management of land, air, and water resources, supporting biodiversity and biosecurity, providing for regional transport services, and building more resilient communities in the face of climate change and natural hazards. Environmental science and local knowledge underpins all that they do.
The regional sector is powered by scientists, engineers, technicians, kaihautū, planners, project managers, land managers, technology specialists, and community relations officers working on some of the most pressing issues of our time. They have extensive knowledge of the catchments and communities they work in, as well as a strong connection to Te Ao Māori.