Taupō District Council will do a deep dive into four different options for local government reform before it decides whether to submit an amalgamation proposal to Central Government.
Central Government announced in May that councils had three months to work with other nearby councils to come up with an outline proposal to merge into larger councils. These will be unitary authorities – councils that deliver district and regional council functions. This is known as the Head Start pathway.
At a full Council meeting held on Tuesday 30 June, councillors resolved to conduct further analysis and assessment of the following options:
- A single unitary authority that includes all the councils in the Waikato region.
- A Central North Island unitary authority that could include various combinations of Ruapehu, Waitomo, Ōtorohanga, South Waikato and Taupō district councils.
- A cross-boundary unitary authority that could include various combinations of Rotorua Lakes, Ruapehu, South Waikato and Taupō district councils.
- Not submitting a Head Start proposal, remaining as Taupō District Council and preparing for a potential Back Stop process (where the Government will decide).
Along with five criteria set by the Government, councillors also approved a set of financial and non-financial criteria to use when weighing up the different amalgamation options. The criteria range from important local decisions being made locally, protecting the environment particularly the Waikato River, Lake Taupō and its tributaries, upholding existing Treaty-based settlements, arrangements and obligations, and continuing to ensure infrastructure meets community need.
A community survey last month attracted 1113 responses with the most popular scenario being for Taupō District Council to team up with a neighbouring council. The second most popular was to join a proposal to create a sub-regional unitary authority made up of two or three district councils.
Key themes from respondents included concern about why amalgamation is being pursued and the rushed timeframe. Respondents expected any amalgamation to protect local voices, assets, finances, environment, identity, decision-making abilities and community relationships. In addition, they made it clear that financial sustainability should be a top priority.
As well as pursuing its own discussions and options for amalgamation, Taupō District Council has also been identified as a partner by other councils in various other potential arrangements in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions.
In-depth analysis and assessment will now begin on the four options and the results will be presented at a public Council meeting on 21 July*. At that meeting, councillors will be asked to decide whether they want to put forward a Head Start proposal to Central Government by the 9 August deadline or wait for the Government’s Back Stop process instead.
*UPDATE: The Council meeting will now take place on 28 July.
