[2] The word city is used in a general sense to identify the urban areas of New Zealand, independent of local body boundaries.
The district government of the town of Gisborne, for example, adamantly described itself as the first "city" in the world to see the new millennium.
Gisborne is governed by a "district council", though its status as a city is not generally disputed in New Zealand.
As defined by SSGA18, Wellington approximately halved in size, and Lower Hutt entered the city rankings in sixth place between Tauranga and Dunedin.
Previously, under Section 37L of the Local Government Act 1974, new cities could only be formed from a "reorganisation scheme".
[citation needed] Prior to 1876, there was no official definition of a city or uniform system of local authorities in New Zealand.
In 1841 the Diocese of New Zealand was established, based in Auckland, however no letters patent were ever issued.
[10] Despite the formation of other dioceses in New Zealand, the only other city to be subsequently issued letters patent was Nelson in 1858.
[13] Following the election of an anti-taxation superintendent in March 1855, William Brown, the Auckland City Council was dissolved and formally disestablished 1856.
[9][10] A legal oddity also provides Dunedin with a minor claim to being New Zealand's oldest city.
Legal disputes over the powers that the Otago Provincial Council delegated to the newly formed Dunedin City Council in 1865,[16] resulted in the central government stepping in and confirming its powers.
Furthermore, the central government passed legislation in 1868 to better regulate municipal councils across the country.
[9][18] The schedule of cities in New Zealand was brought under central government control in 1867,[18] but continued to be sporadically applied.