Prior to being merged into Auckland Council in 2010, North Shore City was divided into three wards, with each of them dividing into two community boards[1] for a total of six within the city; with each of them further consisting of the following populated places (i.e.: suburbs, towns, localities, settlements, communities, hamlets, etc.

The North Shore was first administered by highway districts, which operated from the 1860s onwards, pooling local residents' resources to improve infrastructure.

[4] On 1 August 1974, the Waitemata County was dissolved,[5] leading to Glenfield, Albany and Long Bay being incorporated into Takapuna City.

[6] In 1989, Devonport, Birkenhead, Northcote, Takapuna and East Coast Bays amalgamated to form North Shore City[7] in the 1989 New Zealand local government reforms.

[10] While the Auckland Regional Council had power to impose property tax rates on suburban areas such as North Shore City, local residents voiced strong opposition.

[11][12] There was a pattern of conflict between local authorities and Auckland city officials regarding many matters, such as transportation, land purchases [13] and decay of wharf facilities.

[22] In the 2006 census, the median income for North Shore residents over 15 years was $29,100, compared with a national average of $24,400.

The racial makeup of the city was 67.5% European, 18.5% Asian, 6.3% Māori, 3.4% Pacific Islander, and 1.8% from the Middle East, Africa or Latin America.