Western Bay of Plenty residents are being invited to weigh in on how their council responds to changes to the way local government works.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council will be hosting “community conversations” about the shake-up.

It comes after the Government announced a “Head Start” pathway for local government reform this month, giving councils 90 days to create voluntary proposals for restructuring and merging.

Councils must make submissions by August 9. The Government will decide which proposals proceed and ministers wanted change would be coming whether councils made proposals or not.

The Government has said it wants fewer, larger councils, favouring unitary authorities that combine regional and local council responsibilities.

Western Bay of Plenty Mayor James Denyer has publicly expressed concern about the short deadline for proposals, and how his district would fare if paired with the larger and more urban Tauranga City Council.

The neighbouring councils already work together on water and other services, and last week signed a 10-year regional deal with the Government and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Denyer said in a media release the reform issue went to the heart of how the district had grown, had been represented and had made decisions for more than three decades.

“Since local government reforms in 1989, the Western Bay has worked hard to build a council that reflects the distinct needs of our communities – from Katikati and Waihī Beach, through our rural heartland, to Te Puke and Maketū."

He said it would be “untenable” to make decisions on this without consulting the people the council served.

The community conversations were not a vote or referendum and would not bind a final outcome, but were a way for the council to understand community priorities as changes unfold.

Denyer said the future of local government would ultimately be determined by central government.

Western Bay of Plenty Mayor James Denyer. Photo / David Hall

Denyer said it was the council’s responsibility to ensure the district’s voice was heard before the decisions were made.

“We won’t sit back and do nothing. We want to front-foot this conversation, test our thinking and invite challenge where it’s needed.”

He said the Western Bay’s mix of rural and urban communities, strong primary industries and growth pressures made it very different from cities.

“That local context matters and it needs to be part of any discussion about how local government could look in the future.”

Community conversations will take place from May 25 to June 14, with information to be shared through the council’s Your Place Tō wāhi website.

The council did not share details of events, but said there would be opportunities to take part in person and an online webinar with Denyer and new council chief executive Matt Potton.