Rotorua Lakes Council has agreed to continue investigating whether submitting an outline proposal under the Government’s Head Start pathway for local government reform is in the best interests of the Rotorua district.
Under its "Simplifying Local Government" programme the Government is looking at changing how local government is structured, with a focus on reducing the number of city and district councils and creating unitary authorities.
A voluntary fast-track option, Head Start, enables 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.
At a Council meeting yesterday, elected members endorsed further work to explore what an outline proposal from Rotorua Lakes Council, and any willing partners, could involve.
No decisions have been made about amalgamation or submitting an outline proposal. A final decision will be made on Wednesday, 29 July.
Preliminary engagement has already begun with iwi chairs, the Rotorua business community, and rural and lakes community boards.
Following yesterday's council meeting, an online survey is now open for community feedback.
Council also agreed on six key areas to guide this next phase of work:
- Financial sustainability
- Alignment of communities of interest
- Mana whenua views, interests, and commitments
- Economic alignment and strategic fit
- Local voice and political representation
- Ability to deliver on Government priorities
Council will establish a working group to support the process of analysing potential options against these criteria with further details to be presented to elected members at a future meeting.
Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell says the reforms are a significant moment for local government.
“Any change must protect strong local decision-making and deliver real, practical benefits for communities like Rotorua.
“We’re keeping an open mind and are talking with other Bay of Plenty and Waikato mayors to explore options. These conversations are at an early stage and focused on understanding what different models could look like,” Mayor Tapsell says.
Early community engagement now open
Council is inviting residents to take part in an online survey, open until 5pm, Monday 22 June.
This is not formal consultation, but the start of a conversation with the community.
The survey aims to understand what matters most to Rotorua residents, any concerns or opportunities people see in wider reform, and where the community feels the strongest connections with other regions.
Feedback will help shape Council’s early thinking but will not determine final decisions or guarantee outcomes.
If Council chooses to submit an outline proposal and it is accepted by Cabinet, formal consultation with the community will take place later this year.
Have your say
Take the short online survey on Council's community engagement platform Participate.
