The government ordered neighbouring councils to team up and develop a plan, but some are too busy throwing their toys.

When ministers Simon Watts and Chris Bishop announced in May that every non-Auckland council would have three months to develop a plan to amalgamate with neighbouring councils or the government would impose one on them, it caused a great deal of stress with the local government sector. Councils generally aren’t good at doing things quickly, and this was an enormous decision to foist upon them with an extraordinarily short timeframe.

Some councils have deep-seated rivalries with one another or political divides that aren’t easily resolved. Like a parent ordering squabbling siblings to get along, the government is learning that making councils amalgamate isn’t as simple as it seems. While some councils have been happy to team up, others are kicking their feet and squirming away as hard as they can.

Proposals must come from groups of two or more councils that represent the majority of residents in the relevant area and are due by August 9. So which councils will be ready on time and which are headed for a Not Achieved?

On track 

Hawke’s Bay and Northland each get a gold star for playing nicely. In each region, three councils have agreed to pursue single-council plans, with a lone holdout: Kaipara in Northland and Wairoa in Hawke’s Bay. With the momentum heading in the direction of amalgamation, those reluctant councils aren’t likely to be a major hurdle.

Bay of Plenty’s three councils of Whakatāne, Kawerau and Ōpōtiki unanimously voted to pursue amalgamation, though it was a reluctant agreement, with Ōpōtiki District councillor Barry Howe describing the government’s process as “blackmail”. The West Coast has taken a similar approach – the Grey District, Westland and Buller councils seem happy enough to work together but haven’t confirmed the shape of their proposal yet.

Marlborough also seems to be running smoothly. Kaikōura District Council picked its lane by voting 6-1 in favour of amalgamation with Marlborough rather becoming part of North Canterbury. Marlborough District Council is waiting for more public feedback. The majority of responses from previous rounds of consultation were positive or neutral.

In South Canterbury, the Timaru, Mackenzie, Waimate and Waitaki district councils have agreed to work together on amalgamation, though Ashburton has opted out of the process entirely and doesn’t intend to submit a proposal by the deadline.

At risk of failing

As usual with local politics, things are looking messy in Wellington. Wellington mayor Andrew Little is keen on a super city amalgamation expanding from Wellington City to the Wairarapa. Hutt City and Porirua voters already indicated their support for amalgamation in a referendum in 2025, though Upper Hutt mayor Peri Zee remains sceptical and the three Wairarapa councils may end up forming a separate proposal.

The Christchurch region has five different options ranging from a Christchurch city entity to a region-wide council with the same borders as Environment Canterbury. The biggest stumbling block may be Selwyn District, the rapidly growing region to the city’s south, which has cheaper rates than Christchurch and isn’t too keen to take on the city’s debt. To the north, feedback from Waimakariri residents was overwhelming in favour of creating a North Canterbury council with Hurunui rather than joining Christchurch.

Hamilton’s future is similarly unclear, though it gets points for the coolest super city nickname: Megatron. Hamilton City Council has whittled the decision down to three options of various breadth – the biggest of which is the “Megatron” version combining everything from Thames-Coromandel to Taupō. Waikato District Council has thrown its weight behind a slightly more limited proposal comprising Waikato District and Hamilton City, along with Ōtorohanga, Waitomo, South Waikato, Waipā and Taupō. Meanwhile, King Country councils Ōtorohanga and Waitomo want to do their own thing and have put forward a simple proposal combining their two organisations. Ministers could end up having to pick their favourite from a grab-bag of Waikato proposals.

Absolute shambles

In other regions, warring councils have hit an impasse or are simply too far behind on their homework to have any chance of meeting the government’s deadline.

Nelson-Tasman, Southland and Taranaki all have some variations of the same problem: the town vs country divide. Nelson City mayor Nick Smith is a fan of a unified authority but Tasman mayor Tim King is in no rush to get in bed. Tasman District Council residents rejected an amalgamation with Nelson City back in 2012 and don’t appear to have had any change of heart.  Invercargill City Council voted in support of a combined council for the Southland region, but the councils of Gore and Southland District seem more interested in buddying up together and leaving Invercargill out in the cold. It’s an almost identical story in Taranaki, where Stratford and South Taranaki have already voted to team up together but want to keep New Plymouth out of the equation.

Councils in the Horizons Regional Council area, covering Manawatū, Rangitīkei and Whanganui, don’t plan to submit a proposal, with Whanganui mayor Andrew Tripe saying “we are not going to be ready” for the August 9 deadline.

The most shambolic region of the lot at this point might be Otago, where no one seems to see eye-to-eye. Dunedin City Council still hasn’t worked out a proposal or which councils they’ll be working with. Clutha mayor Jock Martin floated the idea of a unified council covering all of Central Otago, excluding Dunedin. However, Queenstown-Lakes District Council mayor John Glover said “I personally don’t think our council will be in a position to go ahead” with the amalgamation.