What are the Regions of New Zealand?

New Zealand is divided into 16 regions, which are governed by 11 regional councils and 5 unitary authorities that combine regional and district roles. Regional councils manage the environment, natural resources such as water, regional transport and civil defence. This quiz also includes the Chatham Islands, which have their own council. The current regions were created in 1989 during a major local government reform. Their boundaries were drawn mostly along water catchment areas so each council could manage its river systems as a whole. New Zealand had also had provinces in the 19th century, each with its own government, but these were abolished in 1876.