Despite concerns about the tight timeframe, the mayor and councillors of the Taupō District Council will begin investigating whether the council should join a group of other councils to create a unitary authority.

Last week the Government proposed reform of local government via two options. The first is a Head Start pathway, which gives councils three months to work with others in their region to develop a proposal to create a unitary authority. The second option is a back stop process which will involve the government stepping in to ensure reform still happens; or as the government put it: ‘reform, or we will do it for you’.

A unitary authority is a local government body that combines the functions of both a regional council and one or more district or city councils.

Taupō District Mayor John Funnell has already expressed concern about the short timeframe councils have been given to submit a proposal under the Head Start pathway but said that needed to be weighed up against the risk of waiting for the back stop process.

An investigation into the Head Start pathway will involve assessing what the possible options for a unitary authority including Taupō District might look like, how its communities will be represented and whether that would be the best pathway forward.

Investigating options for a Head Start proposal seems like the least risky choice at this time, says Mr Funnell.

“This doesn’t necessarily mean we will go ahead with Head Start, but waiting for the back stop process means we may potentially end up in a place that’s not in the best interests of our district and our people. The councillors and I believe it’s in the best interest of our communities to investigate options now rather than be forced into an arrangement determined by the Government.”

Mr Funnell says there are no preferred partners at this time.

“My colleagues at the council table and I have a lot of questions yet to be answered about the process let alone which option is right for us and where we might wind up. At this stage we genuinely don’t know or have any particular preferences for amalgamation and this work needs to explore what would work best for Taupō District.

“But make no mistake, our concerns about this incredibly squeezed time frame still remain. Three months is nowhere near enough time to consult with our communities and iwi partners.”

Mr Funnell emphasised that while the deadline for Head Start proposals is only three months, any actual changes to council arrangements will not be in place until at least the 2028 local body elections.

“There is plenty of work to be done before any changes that might arrive in late 2028 and until then Taupō District Council will continue with its normal business of serving communities and looking after the place we love.

“I want to reassure people that the interests of the Taupō District and its people remain at the forefront of our thinking.”

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