Otorohanga District Council and Waitomo District Council are working together through the Government’s Head Start reform pathway to explore future local government arrangements. The two King Country councils have established a joint initiative called “Our King Country Future” to examine what a potential council merger or shared structure might look like. This process allows the councils to help shape their own future, rather than having changes imposed on them by central government.
The councils have set up a shared information hub to provide communities with clear and consistent information about the local government reform process. The hub includes key project details, timelines, frequently asked questions, council documents, and updates. A series of community engagement sessions are scheduled for June 2026 across Ōtorohanga and Te Kūiti, giving residents opportunities to learn more and discuss the proposals with elected members and council staff.
The Government has given councils a very short timeframe to prepare an outline proposal for local government reform. Both councils are encouraging residents to participate in early feedback through a community survey. The joint project reflects a collaborative approach between the two neighbouring councils to consider their shared future in the King Country region.
The name “Our King Country Future” was chosen jointly by the Mayors and Chief Executives of both councils to emphasise the shared nature of the work and its focus on the region’s future. Information specific to each council, including meeting papers and formal decisions, will continue to be published on their respective websites, while the joint hub serves as the central source for the collaborative reform project.
Read the full article at Waitomo District Council – News →
Source: Waitomo 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.
