[2] In addition Auckland has 21 local boards[3] and some councils have community committees.
[4][5] Under the Local Electoral Act 2001, boards must have at least four members but not more than twelve.
Their purpose is to: Boards can have powers delegated to them by councils, but cannot own land, or employ staff.
[7] Levels of delegation vary greatly: 25 councils (60%) give boards power to make community grants, 11 (26%) power to run parks and reserves, 10 (24%) power to run community centres and sports and recreation[8] and, in Southland, to spend up to $300,000 on projects.
[9] In Thames-Coromandel boards have control of local harbours, parks, halls, libraries, airfields, swimming pools, toilets, cemeteries, buses, planning, grants, economic development and bylaws.