Source: Federated Farmers of New Zealand
Federated Farmers congratulates those councils that seized the chance to help steer local government reorganisation that works best for their districts and ratepayers.
“Change on the scale the Government is pursuing is necessary and overdue – but it’s nevertheless unsettling and challenging for councillors, and for those they represent,” Feds local government spokesperson Sandra Faulkner says.
“Federated Farmers encouraged councils to put in high-level proposals before the 9 August ‘Head Start’ deadline.
“These big decisions, especially when opinions among residents are split, take courage.
“But it’s far better for councils to hold the pen and help write the next chapter of their future than leave it to the Government to call all the shots,” Faulkner says.
In multiple regions, including the Waikato, Canterbury, Wairarapa, Otago and Southland, plans have been submitted.
They include options for a significantly reduced number of new unitary councils, separated along metropolitan and provincial lines.
“This is the blueprint Federated Farmers has consistently backed,” Faulkner says.
“City and provincial areas have different needs and priorities.
“This model allows each council to focus their efforts and maximise savings and gains, without seriously diluting provincial representation and residents’ connection with their council.
“Federated Farmers now strongly urges the Government to recognise the logic of that separation, honour those councils’ wishes, and work with them as we enter the detailed design phase.”
Federated Farmers applauded the Government announcement last year that New Zealand’s 11 regional councils would be disestablished from 2028 in a drive to eliminate duplication, improve efficiency and reduce costs.
To speed up council discussions on forming new unitary councils, Ministers Watts and Bishop set the clock ticking three months ago by naming 9 August as the deadline for merger proposals.
“Councils that failed to propose streamlined arrangements would be put into a post-2028 backstop, with the Government deciding their future.
“That backstop could well be mega councils covering the entire boundaries of current regional councils, and leaving provincial areas outvoted and sidelined by the big cities,” Faulkner says.
Several Head Start proposals from the Waikato were tabled.
Hauraki, Matamata-Piako and Thames-Coromandel agreed to form a Waihou-Piako-Coromandel Unitary Authority.
Waitomo and Ōtorohanga proposed a new King Country Unitary Council. This leaves Taupō as a potential new unitary and question marks over the future of the lower Waikato.
Waikato Federated Farmers supports a disaggregated model with new unitary councils for the King Country and Waihou-Piako,” Faulkner says.
“Added to this would be a new unitary that combines the current Waipa and Waikato districts, and a standalone Hamilton City Unitary.
“The needs of Hamilton, serving a population of more than 190,00, would completely dominate decision-making, to the detriment of the districts.
“A city of that size deserves its own council at any rate.”
In Bay of Plenty, a three-unitary council set-up – Western (Tauranga and Western BoP), Central (Rotorua alone) and Eastern (Whakatāne, Kawerau and Ōpōtiki) – has been proposed.
“Federated Farmers has strong misgivings about Western BOP being lumped in with Tauranga,” Faulker says.
“Again, in line with that metro-provincial split, Federated Farmers backs the proposal from Stratford and South Taranaki districts to form a new unitary, leaving New Plymouth as a separate council.”
Federated Farmers also supports the bid from Masterton and Carterton District Councils for a union with South Wairarapa District.
“A Wairarapa unitary council serving that large catchment makes far more sense than the Wairarapa being totally overshadowed by the huge new Wellington/Hutt Valley/Porirua metro to the south.”
Reorganisation in Canterbury is shaping up in a way that works for provincial/rural interests, Faulkner says.
“Hurunui and Waimakariri districts want to form a new North Canterbury unitary; Timaru, Mackenzie, Waimate, Waitaki and Ashburton could form a new southern council.
“Christchurch City and Selwyn could be stand-alone councils.”
Meanwhile, Otago’s rural councils favour a new unitary comprising Central Otago, Queenstown Lakes and Clutha councils.
In Southland, Federated Farmers continues to back the call for Invercargill to form one unitary, and the rest of the province another.
The Government is due to announce which Head Start proposals it accepts ‘in principle’ in September, with work continuing by councils on detailed design.
Final proposals are due to be submitted in March next year, with the Government – if it survives the November election – confirming proposals in May 2027.
“It is really positive so many rural councils have taken the initiative and proposed new unitary councils based off rural communities of interest.
“Federated Farmers will be calling on Government to approve these proposals.
“Whatever shape local government ultimately takes, Federated Farmers isn’t going anywhere.
“We’ll keep on working constructively with councils, through the transition and beyond, making sure the voices of rural communities are heard every step of the way.”