Inspector of Nuisances
Descriptive Data
Parallel NameChief Sanitary Inspector Date Range1867-1938DescriptionBy the 1860s the general sanitation of Wellington was a serious concern. Due to the lack of regulations and monitoring of the disposal of waste products, typhoid, dysentery and cholera were present in the city. The only inspections of the current situation were carried out by the Town Board Clerk, who had many other duties to perform, and could not adequately devote time to such work.
In February 1867 the Wellington Town Board minutes recorded a motion to create the role of Inspector of Nuisances, put forward by Charles Pharazan, and the position was duly advertised at a salary of £50 per annum. When the first Inspector of Nuisances was appointed, however, a higher salary of £150 was agreed on by the Town Board, as the duties were acknowledged to be both unpleasant and time consuming.
The definition of nuisance likely came from the tort law of nuisances and referred to the private nuisance which was “the use of property in such a way as to interfere wrongfully with our neighbour's enjoyment of his property”.
The Inspector of Nuisances was initially appointed by the Wellington Town Board and reported to it directly. Once Wellington became a Council the role was appointed by the Council.
Although the Inspector of Nuisances reported directly to the Board of Works he worked closely with the Surveyor to the Board of Works, who prior to this role being created, managed any nuisances together with the Town Clerk.
The Municipal Corporations Act 1876 empowered the Council to officially appoint an Inspector of Nuisances and authorised him to carry out his duties. These were detailed in the Act as:
- the provision of reports to the Council upon the state as to cleanliness of all the streets, private streets, public places, and drains within the borough, and as to any nuisances therein
- the inspection of businesses to ensure their sanitary practices; and
- the visit and inspections of the back yards and premises, privies, cesspools, drains, and other receptacles of dirt or rubbish or sewage matter to ensure there was no nuisance or threat to public health.
The Inspector Nuisances was also responsible for ensuring that livestock was kept in a proper state, making sure that the ‘breadth of streets by private persons’ was respected. Later, the Inspector of Nuisances oversaw motor licensing and any traffic misdemeanors.
It was quite common for the role of the Inspector of Nuisances to be added to other roles a person held. In an 1888 staff report it was agreed that due to the overwhelming extra duties the Inspector of Nuisances was performing, and the amount of work expected purely to manage nuisances, the remuneration be increased to £250 per annum. At this time the Inspector of Nuisances was also Inspector of Hackney carriages and other vehicles, dogs, kerosene, sanitation, water and prosecutor in bylaws cases.
While qualifications do not appear to have been mandatory, the report of the Wellington City Commission of Enquiry in 1932 noted that most of the inspectors were all members of The Royal Sanitary Institute and had completed their examinations for sanitation and plumbing. At this time the role of Inspector of Nuisances was under the charge of the City Engineer. The role was known as the Chief Sanitary Inspector at this time, although the statutory name was still the Inspector of Nuisances.
The Wellington City Commission of Enquiry in 1932 was a review of Council roles, and recommendations were made by the Deputy Engineer to split the functions of the Inspector of Nuisances into the Health Department and the Building Survey Branch of the council. In 1938 the Municipal Corporations Amendment Act modified the functions of the role of the Inspector of Nuisances to become the Sanitary Inspector, stating that “Every person holding office at the passing of this act this Act as an Inspector of Nuisances under the principal Act shall be deemed to have been duly appointed as a Sanitary Inspector.”
In current times the role of sanitary or health inspections would be controlled by the central government, but other aspects of the original role such as removal of refuse and inspection of drainage are still monitored by the Wellington City Council.
External LinksMunicipal Corporations Amendment Act 1938Who will put his pipe outMotion for Inspector of Nuisances put forward
In February 1867 the Wellington Town Board minutes recorded a motion to create the role of Inspector of Nuisances, put forward by Charles Pharazan, and the position was duly advertised at a salary of £50 per annum. When the first Inspector of Nuisances was appointed, however, a higher salary of £150 was agreed on by the Town Board, as the duties were acknowledged to be both unpleasant and time consuming.
The definition of nuisance likely came from the tort law of nuisances and referred to the private nuisance which was “the use of property in such a way as to interfere wrongfully with our neighbour's enjoyment of his property”.
The Inspector of Nuisances was initially appointed by the Wellington Town Board and reported to it directly. Once Wellington became a Council the role was appointed by the Council.
Although the Inspector of Nuisances reported directly to the Board of Works he worked closely with the Surveyor to the Board of Works, who prior to this role being created, managed any nuisances together with the Town Clerk.
The Municipal Corporations Act 1876 empowered the Council to officially appoint an Inspector of Nuisances and authorised him to carry out his duties. These were detailed in the Act as:
- the provision of reports to the Council upon the state as to cleanliness of all the streets, private streets, public places, and drains within the borough, and as to any nuisances therein
- the inspection of businesses to ensure their sanitary practices; and
- the visit and inspections of the back yards and premises, privies, cesspools, drains, and other receptacles of dirt or rubbish or sewage matter to ensure there was no nuisance or threat to public health.
The Inspector Nuisances was also responsible for ensuring that livestock was kept in a proper state, making sure that the ‘breadth of streets by private persons’ was respected. Later, the Inspector of Nuisances oversaw motor licensing and any traffic misdemeanors.
It was quite common for the role of the Inspector of Nuisances to be added to other roles a person held. In an 1888 staff report it was agreed that due to the overwhelming extra duties the Inspector of Nuisances was performing, and the amount of work expected purely to manage nuisances, the remuneration be increased to £250 per annum. At this time the Inspector of Nuisances was also Inspector of Hackney carriages and other vehicles, dogs, kerosene, sanitation, water and prosecutor in bylaws cases.
While qualifications do not appear to have been mandatory, the report of the Wellington City Commission of Enquiry in 1932 noted that most of the inspectors were all members of The Royal Sanitary Institute and had completed their examinations for sanitation and plumbing. At this time the role of Inspector of Nuisances was under the charge of the City Engineer. The role was known as the Chief Sanitary Inspector at this time, although the statutory name was still the Inspector of Nuisances.
The Wellington City Commission of Enquiry in 1932 was a review of Council roles, and recommendations were made by the Deputy Engineer to split the functions of the Inspector of Nuisances into the Health Department and the Building Survey Branch of the council. In 1938 the Municipal Corporations Amendment Act modified the functions of the role of the Inspector of Nuisances to become the Sanitary Inspector, stating that “Every person holding office at the passing of this act this Act as an Inspector of Nuisances under the principal Act shall be deemed to have been duly appointed as a Sanitary Inspector.”
In current times the role of sanitary or health inspections would be controlled by the central government, but other aspects of the original role such as removal of refuse and inspection of drainage are still monitored by the Wellington City Council.
External LinksMunicipal Corporations Amendment Act 1938Who will put his pipe outMotion for Inspector of Nuisances put forward
Related People
Person in RoleJames Joseph Doyle
Related Agency
Related AgencyWellington Board of Works staff
Related Agency
Related AgencyTown Clerk's Department
Related Roles
Subsequent RoleSanitary Inspector
Inspector of Nuisances. Archives Online, accessed 22/09/2026, https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/882058