ðə kˈaʊnsəl wʌz fˈɔːɹmd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi nˈaɪn, ɹᵻplˈeɪsɪŋ ɹˈɪtʃmənd bˈʌɹoʊ kˈaʊnsəl wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti wˈʌn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi nˈaɪn, mˈɑːɾuːkə kˈaʊnti kˈaʊnsəl nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi nˈaɪn, ɡˈoʊldən bˈeɪ kˈaʊnti kˈaʊnsəl nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti sˈɪks nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi nˈaɪn, ænd wˈeɪmiə kˈaʊnti kˈaʊnsəl wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti sˈɪks nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi nˈaɪn.
The council was formed in 1989, replacing Richmond Borough Council (1891–1989), Motueka County Council (1900–1989), Golden Bay County Council (1956–1989), and Waimea County Council (1876–1989).