Tauranga City Council has released survey results showing strong community support for local government reform in the Bay of Plenty region. The independent survey, which ran from 15 June to 1 July 2026 and drew 1,338 responses from Tauranga residents, was conducted in response to the Government’s Simplifying Local Government programme. The programme requires councils to submit high-level proposals by 9 August 2026 as part of a Head Start pathway.
The survey found that over 79 per cent of respondents want Tauranga City Council to work with neighbouring councils to shape the region’s future rather than have change imposed by central government. Over 78 per cent support reducing the number of councils through mergers, and over 85 per cent backed the creation of a single larger council for the wider Bay of Plenty area if it delivers service efficiencies, simpler governance, and financial savings. Western Bay of Plenty District Council was the preferred merger partner for 54 per cent of respondents, with Whakatāne District Council the next most popular option.
Mayor Mahé Drysdale says the feedback reflects how closely connected communities across the Western Bay of Plenty sub-region already are, with residents crossing council boundaries daily for work, education, recreation, and essential services. The top priorities identified for any future local government structure were keeping rates low, efficient delivery of council functions and services, and efficient delivery of infrastructure. The Mayor emphasised that any reform is not about one council taking over another, but about working together to design something new that delivers better outcomes.
Tauranga City Council will continue discussions with neighbouring councils over the coming weeks to develop potential options ahead of the 9 August deadline. Any proposal submitted will require Government approval, and councils will have until March 2027 to refine proposals into full plans that would take effect after the 2028 local body elections.
Read the full article at Tauranga City Council – News →
Source: Tauranga City 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.
