Heathcote County was one of the

former A former is an object, such as a template, gauge or cutting die, which is used to form something such as a boat's hull. Typically, a former gives shape to a structure that may have complex curvature. A former may become an integral part of the ...

counties of New Zealand A system of counties of New Zealand was instituted after the country dissolved its provinces in 1876, and these counties were similar to other countries' systems, lasting with little change (except mergers and other localised boundary adjustmen ...

. It covered the southern parts of

Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...

History

Heathcote County was preceded by the Heathcote Road Board, which had its first meeting on 27 January 1864. An 1863 ordinance from the

Canterbury Provincial Council The Canterbury Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. Its capital was Christchurch. History Canterbury was founded in December 1850 by the Canterbury Association of influential En ...

established three road boards along the

Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River The Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River lies within the city boundaries of Christchurch, New Zealand, and is fed from springs near Templeton Road, with a catchment area in wet weather extending as far west as Yaldhurst and Pound Road. It meanders aroun ...

: East, Central, and South Heathcote. The Roads Ordinance was amended in 1864, and East Heathcote became the Heathcote Road Board, Central Heathcote became the Spreydon Road Board, and South Heathcote became the Halswell Road Board. Heathcote became a county in 1911. In 1953 part of the county was incorporated into Christchurch City. The county was abolished through the

1989 local government reforms The 1989 New Zealand local government reform was the most significant reform of local government in New Zealand in over a century. Some 850 local bodies were amalgamated into 86 local authorities, on Regions of New Zealand, regional and Territo ...

Chairmen

Road Board

The Road Board had 19 chairmen between 1864 and 1911.

County Council

The County Council had 16 chairmen between 1911 and 1989. The last chairman of the Road Board became the first chairman of the County Council. Table footnotes:

Notes

References