Waikato District Council has thrown its support behind a “mountains to sea” model for council merger, proposing a single combined council responsible for both district and regional services.
The preferred area would broadly follow the Waikato River catchment from its central North Island headwaters to Port Waikato, while also encompassing western coastal communities. The exact boundaries and participating councils are still being worked through.
The proposed combined council would take on responsibilities currently divided between district councils and Waikato Regional Council, including public transport, environmental management and water catchment management. Beneath it, elected community councils and local boards would provide local decision-making and advocacy for individual towns and rural communities.
Councillor Lisa Thomson says protecting local voice has been one of the strongest messages to emerge from community engagement.
“People are worried about rates affordability. They’re getting good value for money. They actually want local voice protected. Worried about debt if they go on with other councils,” she says.
She says residents also want to see bureaucracy reduced and greater efficiencies achieved, without smaller communities losing their influence.
Rather than creating a single council covering the entire Waikato region, the preferred model would broadly follow the Waikato River catchment from its central North Island headwaters to Port Waikato, while encompassing western coastal communities.
Lisa says the council has settled on a “mountains to sea” model centred on the Waikato River catchment and west coast communities.
She says the approach recognises not only shared environmental systems, but also iwi and hapū connections that extend from the mountains to the west coast.
Lisa says that from a tribal perspective, the model would avoid dividing the Waikato River catchment between different authorities. “So the western area is favoured by us.”
A key feature of the proposal is strengthening local representation.
Lisa says community councils should sit “at the very heart” of the governance model and be properly resourced with dedicated staff, rather than acting as advisory bodies with limited influence.
“The community councils need to be resourced to be effective, just like the community boards need to be well resourced, and we know that they’re under-resourced.”
She also suggested safeguards should ensure any future metropolitan area could not dominate decision-making, allowing smaller communities to retain a meaningful voice within the new structure.
Discussions with neighbouring councils are continuing ahead of the Government’s 9 August deadline for Head Start proposals.
Mayor Aksel Bech has been meeting with other mayors to build support, as at least two councils must agree to a proposal before it can be considered by central government.
Lisa says there is still considerable uncertainty, with different councils pursuing different options and some communities concerned about losing their identity within larger organisations.
If councils cannot agree on a viable proposal, the Government may ultimately determine the final structure through its backstop process.
“Change is coming whether we are on board or not,” she says.
“I’d rather be part of determining what that change is, or at least having a say in that.”
Election reminder
Lisa is also encouraging residents to check they are enrolled ahead of this year’s local elections.
Voters have until 6 August to switch between the Māori and general rolls, while enrolments remain open until 25 October.
“Get young people out there to vote, get enrolled,” she says.
“If you’re not part of it, you don’t have a say.”