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Councils nationwide are now relying on Wellington to help reform local government. In total, 18 proposals, including one featuring north Waikato’s Waikato District Council (WDC), have been submitted as part of the Head Start initiative.
Head Start is intended to provide pathways for amalgamation along similar lines as Auckland’s councils followed when forming the Super City in 2010. The protocol was established because councils wanted to simplify and streamline local government, RMA (Resource Management Act) Reform Minister, Chris Bishop, explains.
“Local government leaders realised that they had to change and they wanted to shape that change,” he says. “Head Start gave councils the opportunity to put forward their own reorganisation ideas and consider how local government can be better organised to deliver for their communities.”
However, the best laid plans of politicians and geographers sometimes go awry. Some councils have resisted joining in on amalgamations.
In Waikato, WDC is set to unite with Waipa and South Waikato District Councils. However, Hamilton City and Taupo District Councils have, so far, refused invitations to join the bloc. In total, three Waikato Head Start proposals have been put forward with none (so far) including Hamilton City Council.
Cabinet will now consider which proposals will progress to a detailed design phase, then decide whether they will be implemented ahead of the 2028 local government elections.
Local Government Minister Simon Watts says that more information about the proposals will be released as soon as possible.
“In some parts of the country, more than one proposal has been submitted. Each of those proposals will be assessed on their own merits against the agreed criteria,” he adds. “The government is also [considering] arrangements for areas that do not progress through Head Start. Decisions will be informed by lessons from the pathway, consultation, feedback and advice from officials.”
