Thames-Coromandel District Council Mayor Peter Revell is urging residents to provide feedback on proposed local government reforms, describing them as the biggest shake-up to councils in nearly 40 years. The Council has released three options for potential amalgamation and is seeking community input by 15 July 2026.
The three options under consideration are Greater Waikato, which would merge all councils in the Waikato Regional Council area; North Bay of Plenty, combining Thames-Coromandel with Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, and part of Hauraki; and East Waikato, bringing together Thames-Coromandel with Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, and South Waikato. Residents are being asked to rank these options in order of preference and provide comments or suggest alternatives.
Mayor Revell compared the reforms to the 1989 amalgamations that reduced 850 local bodies to 86 regional and territorial authorities. The current reforms will see regional councils abolished and district councils amalgamated into unitary authorities. He emphasised that while the reforms are being driven by central government, it is essential for the community to make its voice heard on decisions that will significantly affect local governance.
A Simplifying Local Government Working Group has been established to investigate options and hold informal discussions with other councils. Mayor Revell stressed that no decisions have been made yet, and further analysis and community consultation will inform the final direction. The working group will meet regularly with weekly updates provided to the full Council, community boards, and the wider community.
Read the full article at Thames-Coromandel District Council – News →
Source: Thames-Coromandel District Council – News. This summary was published by Input Ltd via amalgamation.nz, New Zealand’s central resource for local government amalgamation news and council merger updates.
