A group of Kerikeri residents wants to form a new residents and ratepayers organisation before candidates are named for the upcoming local body elections.
Spokeswoman Jane Johnston said a growing number of people are expressing concern about how the Far North District Council operates and its accountability, and she wants the new association to be able to "interrogate" those standing for council and community boards.
"Currently there is no ratepayer association providing a watchdog and advocacy role in relation to significant infrastructure projects being planned for Kerikeri and surrounds that will have to be financed by ratepayers," she said.
"For example there is a new sewerage treatment plant in the capital works budget. Consider what happened at Mangawhai, where the cost blew out from the expected $10 million sewerage scheme to a $57 million cost having to be paid by ratepayers connected to that scheme."
She also cited transportation issues, flood risk mitigation work and water supply as issues that need examining in the district.