“Status quo is not an option … We can drive the bus or be roadkill. This is our opportunity to lead the change.”

That was Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale’s message as councillors debated the city’s options for local government reform this week.

“This is the biggest change to local government since 1989,” Drysdale said.

In May, the Government introduced the head start pathway as part of its Simplifying Local Government programme, which aims to have fewer, bigger councils.

Head start allows councils to voluntarily propose mergers, rather than wait for compulsory reforms – the backstop pathway.

Ministers have encouraged councils to form unitary authorities that have regional and local council functions.

Tuesday’s meeting heard that Tauranga City Council has been in discussions with the councils of Western Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki, Thames-Coromandel and Taupō.

The council agreed to work on a unitary authority proposal outline with some or all Bay of Plenty councils, plus willing adjoining district councils from other regions.

This was recommended by staff to allow the council to work with partner councils to design a system that works for the city’s communities. Making the change before the 2028 elections would also provide certainty for the community.

The staff report said disadvantages of head start included a tight timeframe, no certainty of the proposal being accepted, requiring agreement from at least one partner council, and the fact government policy and direction could change after the upcoming general election.

The report said the “biggest risk” of head start was no suitable councils wanting to partner with Tauranga, leaving the backstop as the city’s only option.

By waiting for the backstop process, the council could avoid the deadline, follow thorough engagement processes with the community, avoid wasted effort if the proposal is not accepted or the risk of not finding a workable partner, and know whether government policy and direction have changed significantly following the general election.

Drysdale said that working with other councils could reduce duplication and improve efficiency.

Pāpāmoa councillor Steve Morris said this was not about adding other districts to Tauranga, but designing a new system for the region together.

Pāpāmoa councillor Steve Morris and Tauriko councillor Marten Rozeboom. Photo / Jo Jones

Tauriko councillor Marten Rozeboom said he was concerned that everyone was still sitting within their current local authority boundaries.

“The ministers made it clear that we can redraw these lines or take the lines away completely.

“Sticking to our boundaries may be restrictive for some communities.”

Public consultation

The council opened initial public consultation on June 15 and this will close on July 1.

This includes a survey on the council’s website gauging support or concerns about mergers, and views on which areas Tauranga could partner with.

The staff report said the survey was estimated to cost about $50,000, funded through existing budgets.

Drysdale also hosted a live chat on Facebook last night on the subject. Viewers asked questions including about how small communities could have their voices heard in a bigger organisation.

The council was provisionally scheduled to decide whether to go ahead with any resulting proposal on July 21.

Head start outline proposals are due August 9.

Cabinet will decide which ones proceed.

The council agreed the head start proposal include results from public engagement and cover matters such as ensuring local voice, finances and proposed boundaries of the proposed new unitary authority.

Cabinet would tell the councils which proposals will continue to be developed in September 2026.

Final proposals will be submitted to the Government in March and the intended timing for final Cabinet decisions is in May.

The backstop pathway will begin after the 2028 local elections for councils that either choose not to take part or that are not part of the accepted proposals.

Ayla Yeoman is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based in Tauranga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in communications, politics and international relations from the University of Auckland, and has been a journalist since 2022.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.