Mayors and Chairs representing seven Upper North Island Councils met on 24 April for the first meeting of the Upper North Island Strategic Alliance (UNISA) this triennium.

This alliance brings together elected leaders from Auckland Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Northland Regional Council, Waikato Regional Council, Hamilton City Council, Tauranga City Council, and Whangarei District Council.

Collectively, these councils represent New Zealand’s largest and fastest‑growing regions, encompassing a significant share of the country’s population, economic activity, critical infrastructure, ports, and natural resources.

UNISA Chair and Tauranga Mayor, Mahé Drysdale, says the meeting marked a new chapter for UNISA this triennium.

“It was great to bring Mayors and Chairs together for the first time this triennium. With new faces around the table, there was fresh thinking, energy, and a real sense of shared purpose. We’re encouraged by the opportunity ahead of us.”

UNISA provides a forum for cities and regions to collaborate on issues that cross council and regional boundaries, enabling leaders to speak with a collective voice and drive practical, nationally significant outcomes.

“Many of the challenges facing our communities don’t stop at regional boundaries,” Mayor Mahé says.

“The agreed focus was confirming UNISA’s value proposition and leveraging our scale through collaboration, action, and aligned advocacy.”

Leaders began setting UNISA’s 2026–2028 strategic direction, with early agreement to focus on a number of priority areas, with an emphasis on resilient, affordable connections that matter most across the Upper North Island and to New Zealand’s economy. These include:

• A joined up Upper North Island port strategy, encompassing efficient connections between Northland, Auckland and Tauranga’s seaports, as well as the Ruakura Inland Port.
• A route resilience strategy, covering road and rail networks that support the efficient connections of people and freight.
• Stronger discipline on infrastructure affordability, efficiency and cost discipline, with a clear focus on value for money for ratepayers.
• Aligned advocacy to central government on key national issues, including energy resilience, the natural environment, civil defence and emergency response, productivity and better enabling the Māori economy.
• Taking a holistic view to grow NZ Inc rather than a narrower focus on individual areas.

Mayor Mahé says the forum demonstrated strong momentum.

“This was a highly engaged and constructive discussion. We’re looking forward to meeting again next month to confirm our work programme and move from intent to action.”

Leaders also heard from government officials on the scale of reform currently underway and agreed there was an opportunity for UNISA to take a more coordinated and cohesive approach to engagement with central government, to progress priorities at pace and drive practical and nationally significant outcomes.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown - noted the national significance of the alliance.

“Collectively, UNISA represents more than 60 percent of New Zealand’s population and includes the country’s three busiest seaports, connecting New Zealand to the world.”

“A focus on stronger discipline around infrastructure efficiency and cost was required and better alignment with government on what’s actually needed and what we can afford, prioritising needs over wants.”

Northland Regional Council Chair Pita Tipene described the Upper North Island as an economic engine for the country.

“Our region is an economic powerhouse for all New Zealanders. Working proactively together strengthens our ability to deliver real outcomes for everyone.”

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