Waitomo District Council and Otorohanga District Council have had their “Our King Country Future” amalgamation proposal put on hold by the Government. The Cabinet decision, announced by Local Government Minister Simon Watts, means the Head Start proposal will be shelved for future consideration rather than proceeding immediately. Both councils will continue operating as usual for now.
Minister Watts explained that while the quality of Head Start proposals was generally high, the assessment process identified common issues requiring further consideration. No proposals came with unanimous regional support, and some needed additional analysis before progressing. Rather than requiring councils to commit more time and resources to finalise proposals now, the Government has decided to resolve common design issues first to enable a smoother reorganisation process in future.
Waitomo Mayor John Robertson expressed disappointment that the amalgamation did not receive quick approval but said he was not surprised by the decision. He remains confident that a King Country Council makes sense and will eventually proceed, though it may now require action from a new government after general elections. Robertson thanked staff and communities for their work and passionate support for the proposal, noting that community feedback showed wide support for forming a King Country Council.
Ōtorohanga Mayor Rodney Dow acknowledged that while the outcome does not provide the certainty hoped for, it does offer clarity. He emphasised that the substantial work completed by both councils has not been wasted. The focus now shifts to continuing day-to-day operations, maintaining close collaboration between Waitomo and Ōtorohanga, and ensuring the King Country has a strong voice in whatever future local government reform arrangements emerge.
Read the full article at Otorohanga District Council – News →
Source: Otorohanga 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.
