Back to Insights
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:
Solvency (30%)
Debt levels, interest coverage
Operational (25%)
Operating margin, efficiency
Liquidity (15%)
Cash position, current ratio
Assets (15%)
Capex vs depreciation
Sustainability (15%)
Debt growth, self-sufficiency
| 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.