A Selwyn County Council previously operated in the area between 1876 and 1910.

[2][3] The council is led by the mayor of Selwyn, who is currently Sam Broughton.

[1] Councillors are elected once every three years, using the first-past-the post system.

In 2020, the council had 282 staff, including 41 earning more than $100,000.

According to the right-wing Taxpayers' Union think tank, residential rates averaged $2,488.