Local Government Reform update

Elected members will next week consider whether Rotorua Lakes Council will proceed with investigating an outline proposal as part of a fast-track pathway for amalgamation of councils.

A meeting of Council to discuss the matter is being held at 10am on Monday, 8 June.

If Council decides to proceed with an outline proposal, they will also be asked to confirm criteria for further assessment of potential partner councils and options.

Under its "Simplifying Local Government" programme the Government is looking at changing how local government is structured to simplify the system and reduce the number of councils, with a focus on creating unitary authorities.

A voluntary fast-track option, called Head Start, is now open for councils to submit "outline proposals" for how they want to reorganise local government in their regions. The deadline for outline proposals is 9 August 2026.

Outline proposals are expected to identify the proposed geography and participating councils, explain the case for change, outline the intended governance and service delivery direction, and identify the principal issues requiring further work.

These high-level proposals must be submitted by groups of councils, not individual councils acting alone, and will be assessed against set criteria. Ministers will recommend which should proceed to the next stage.

If councils choose to not take part in the Head Start pathway the Government has said it will step in through a “backstop” process after the 2028 local elections.

A workshop was held for elected members last week to hear about the “Head Start” process from the Department of Internal Affairs and discuss potential criteria to help guide how Council would assess options.

A report to Council for next Monday’s meeting recommends that Council continue investigating whether participation in Head Start is in Rotorua’s best interests.

It recommends six criteria areas to guide the next phase of work and the preparation of any outline proposal:

• Financial health of the council;
• Communities of interest alignment with Rotorua District communities;
• Mana whenua views, interests and relevant commitments;
• Economic alignment and strategic fit;
• Local voice and political representation; and
• Ability to deliver the five priorities of government in the policy

Due to the tight timeframe for submitting outline proposals, formal consultation is not possible. Community engagement will start next week with an online survey designed to understand what matters most to Rotorua communities.

Early engagement has already begun with iwi chairs, the Rotorua business community, and other councils. Council has also had the opportunity to hear from DIA officials in a workshop setting.

If an outline proposal is submitted and accepted by Cabinet, there will be further opportunities for formal public consultation later this year with final Cabinet approval expected in May 2027.

Monday’s Council meeting starts at 10am in the Council Chamber and is open to the public to attend. It will also be livestreamed so can be watched live or later via Council’s YouTube channel.

View the full report in Monday’s agenda: public-agenda-council-meeting-08-june-2026.pdf

For more about the Simplifying Local Government programme and what it could mean for Rotorua: Simplifying Local Government - Rotorua Lakes Council

More about last week’s workshop: Council continues work on Government Head Start Pathway reform - Rotorua Lakes Council

View the full recording of the workshop: Simplifying Local Government - Head Start Pathway Discussion workshop - 27 May 2026