Local Government reforms: Whanganui, Rangitīkei and Ruapehu councils respond to fast-tracked shake-up

Whanganui District Council, formerly Wanganui District Council, was formed in 1989, with the amalgamation of Wanganui City Council and Wanganui County Council. Photo / NZME

Council amalgamation is being fast-tracked in Whanganui, Ruapehu and Rangitīkei, with territorial authorities given three months to formulate a plan.

On May 5, Resource Management Act Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Local Government Minister Simon Watts announced councils had to make proposals that would “simplify and strengthen local government in their regions”.

The deadline is August 9.

Bishop said if councils did not submit credible proposals, the Government would step in and make the decisions.

There were 78 city and district, regional, and unitary councils, a high number for a country of New Zealand’s size, he said.

Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe said the Government’s announcement had “caused a flurry of activity and thinking”.

“Basically, the Government has given us a chance to go early before it’s done to us, so to speak,” he said.

“I think these early days are about having conversations with our neighbours and forming some views.

“This has massive implications on the future of local government.”

Tripe said while councils accepted some change was needed, it had not been well articulated by the Government.

“Ultimately, part of the discussion has to be about financial viability of councils long term, having a representative local voice that feels heard, and delivering services that ensure we have a great place to live.”

Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe says the announcement "has caused a flurry of activity and thinking”. Photo / Mike Tweed

Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson said he needed to speak to other mayors because “we all need to be working on the same song sheet”.

“We need a whole series of conversations as to exactly what this means,” he said.

“And probably a little bit further clear definition from the minister.”

Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton said he was part of the last local government reforms in 1989, when several authorities amalgamated to form Ruapehu District Council.

Wanganui District Council, now Whanganui District Council, was formed through the amalgamation of Wanganui City Council and Wanganui County Council.

The 1989 reforms consolidated 850 organisations into 86 local authorities.

“That was an easier fix, joining up county and borough councils because they lived in the same area,” Kirton said.

“In this situation, you’ve got distance and communities not aligned to each other naturally.”

Kirton said councils needed to visualise what would happen after the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms.

Ruapehu and Whanganui councils are forming a joint water services council-controlled organisation, which will begin operating on July 1 next year.

Water delivery was “half the income and half the debt” for the council.

“I would say we’re in a situation where amalgamation needs to be looked at on that basis alone,” Kirton said,

“Our situation, which is not unusual for small rural communities, is rates are our only form of revenue.”

Last November, the Government announced a plan to abolish elected regional councillors and replace them with Combined Territories Boards (CTBs), comprising regional mayors.

That option was scrapped after strong opposition during consultation.

The Government said new proposals must be submitted by groups of councils, not individual councils acting alone, and should focus on creating unitary authorities.

Unitary authorities combine territorial and regional councils and perform both roles in their area.

“This means combining regional and local council functions into a single organisation, reducing duplication and simplifying decision-making, and creating a structure that works better at a regional or subregional level.”

Final decisions will be made by Cabinet in 2027, with changes expected to take effect for the 2028 local elections, the Government said.

Ruapehu Mayor Weston Kirton.

Kirton, a former Horizons regional councillor, said unitary authorities were not a new concept and operated in Auckland, Tasman and Gisborne.

But he was concerned rural communities could lose representation.

“I’m leaning towards the continuation of mayors in each of the communities and, similar to Auckland [Council], having community boards.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do and I have no idea how it’s going to unfold.”

Horizons Regional Council chairwoman Nikki Riley said she welcomed the chance “to engage in a once-in-a-generation reform for local government”.

“The regional council is ready to enable meaningful change through this process, supporting our mayors, communities and staff as we work towards unitary arrangements for our region,” she said.

“I look forward to working with our region’s leaders to see what the best model is to deliver the best outcomes for our communities.”

Tripe said his council was already “on the efficiency pathway”.

“We are squeezing a lot out of the system as it is.

“There is what’s called horizontal subsidiarity, how we share services across the region.

“Is bigger better? There are a lot of questions to be answered.”

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.