The Far North District Council (FNDC) proposed replacing Northland's four councils with two unitary authorities last December.
The commission called for alternative applications and 41 responses were received proposing:
The union of Whangarei and Kaipara districts, and retention of the other councils.
Hokianga to become a unitary authority with or without change to other councils.
A Kaipara Harbour territorial authority to be constituted after the elections in October.
FNDC to become a unitary authority with the status quo applying for the rest of the region.
The three territorial authorities to become unitary authorities.
Two unitary authorities, FNDC and Whangarei/Kaipara, for Northland (as per Whangarei District Council response).
One unitary authority for Northland (as per Northland Regional Council response).
The status quo including possible options for establishing further community boards and shared service arrangements
OR
An enhanced status quo involving the retention of existing councils with transfer(s) of particular statutory obligations among councils.
Commissioners Basil Morrison, Grant Kirby and Anne Carter have already met more than 40 groups around Northland and they now want to hear from the public at meetings next week.
Monday: Kerikeri Turner Centre, noon-1.30pm; Mangawhai Golf Club, 4pm-6pm.
Tuesday: Maungaturoto Centennial Hall, 11am-1pm; Dargaville Lighthouse Function Centre, 4pm-6pm.
Wednesday: Paihia Memorial Hall, 9am-11am; Russell Town Hall, 1pm-3pm; Kaikohe FNDC chambers, 5pm-7pm (broadcast via videoconference to Te Ahu Centre Kaitaia and John Butler Centre Kerikeri).
Thursday: Rawene Town Hall, 9am-11am; Kaitaia Te Ahu Centre, 1pm-3pm; Whangarei Toll Stadium meeting rooms, 6-8pm.
Friday: Whangarei Public Library May Bain Room, 10.15am-noon.
Candidate says job experience matters
Whangarei mayoral candidate Isopo Samu says his 30 years as a teacher, police officer, civil servant, and marriage celebrant, as well as two terms as district councillor, means he will bring a unique view to the district's top job and he says youth will be a focus if elected.
Ms Samu, who served two terms on the council between 1998 and 2004, came fourth in the race to be mayor in the 2010 elections with 1516 votes and is having a second tilt at the top job.
He said he has lived and worked in Whangarei for more than 30 years, working as a teacher, police officer, civil servant, and marriage celebrant, all of which gave experiences he would bring to the roll of mayor.
"I specialise in youth and community development. My work has not only allowed me to accumulate a vast range of skills and experiences in governance and management but it also helped me develop people skills and to be able to retain a commonsense approach to my work," Mr Samu said.
"I enjoy working in the diverse communities that make up our city and the challenges they bring. I have learnt to value our most valuable resource, people."
He said some of the things that concern him about the current council include the high level of debt, the selling of assets to reduce debt and the lack of transparency in some of the decision-making around major projects by councillors who are conflicted.
Mr Samu said: "However, like many of you, I am interested in the future of my children and my grandchildren.
"Council needs to ... take the lead role at the table with our youth, businesses, government and community agencies, to discuss how we as a community can support and provide opportunities for our children to study, train and work here to make Whangarei home."
Mr Samu said he was excited about the election's potential. "We can select from the potential pool of candidates based on the skills, the experience and the values they bring to form a council that is accountable to the people who employ them.