Confirmed Council Mergers in New Zealand

Are there any confirmed council mergers yet?

No council mergers have been confirmed yet. Following the government’s 5 May 2026 amalgamation announcement, councils have until 9 August 2026 to submit Head Start reorganisation proposals. Cabinet is expected to make initial decisions on shortlisted proposals by late 2026, with detailed planning through 2027 and new structures aimed at being in place before the 2028 local body elections.

This page will be updated the moment any merger is confirmed. We are tracking proposals from Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Southland, and other regions, and will list confirmed mergers here as they are announced, along with the councils involved and the expected timeline.

Last updated: 13 July 2026.