The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is criticising the Government’s approach to council amalgamation, arguing that ratepayers are being excluded from the process. The organisation has called on Local Government Minister Simon Watts to ensure ratepayers have direct representation as the Government considers council mergers across New Zealand.
Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman Ella Dickson warned that asking councils to redesign themselves without ratepayer input lacks credibility, comparing it to “asking foxes to redesign the henhouse”. She highlighted that despite ratepayers funding local government, not one Ratepayers’ Alliance has been invited to contribute to the Government’s amalgamation process, describing this omission as extraordinary.
The criticism centres on concerns that the reform process may prioritise the interests of council insiders over the communities they serve. The Taxpayers’ Union is pressing Minister Watts to clarify whether the Government is working for councils or for ratepayers and communities affected by potential local government reform.
The organisation has published a Ratepayers’ Guide to Amalgamation to inform communities about the merger process. The intervention adds to ongoing debate about how local government reform should be conducted and who should have influence over decisions that will reshape council structures and services across the country.
Read the full article at Taxpayers’ Union – News →
Source: Taxpayers’ Union – 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.
