Southern Taranaki councils propose wedding without New Plymouth

Author: Craig Ashworth,
Publish Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2026, 2:21pm

South Taranaki Mayor Phil Nixon and his councillors were unanimous in rejecting a wedding with New Plymouth. Photo / Supplied via LDR

South Taranaki and Stratford councils will ask the Government to bless their union – but have spurned neighbouring New Plymouth.

Councillors almost unanimously backed a proposal to become one unitary authority, combining district and regional council functions for southern and central Taranaki.

Early in May the Government ordered councils to amalgamate, aiming for simpler and cheaper local government.

Councils have until August 9 to come up with reform proposals under its Head Start process.

From the start, the smaller councils were wary of being dominated by New Plymouth, which has 70% of the region’s population but just 30% of its territory.

South Taranaki District Mayor Phil Nixon said there’d been a strong call from communities, iwi and key stakeholders to protect local voice, decision-making and control of services.

“People understand change is coming, but they do not want south or central Taranaki’s voice to be lost in a single, region-wide council.”

South Taranaki District Council’s vote was unanimous, with just one vote against at Stratford, which Nixon said was a clear position to take into the next stage of Head Start.

“It supports change where change is required, but it also recognises that Taranaki is not one single community with one set of needs, priorities or interests,” Nixon said.

Ninety-four per cent of 1392 respondents to a South Taranaki survey opposed merging with New Plymouth in the nationwide shake-up of councils.

Stratford District Council’s online poll drew 633 responses with 83% also supporting a two-council model.

Ngāti Ruanui urged both councils not to undervalue the relationships built between iwi, decision-makers and the community.

“Once relationships are diluted, they are difficult to rebuild,” Te Runanga o Ngāti Ruanui policy manager Graham Young said.

Stratford District Mayor Neil Volzke said merging with STDC would simplify local government while keeping decision-making closer to the most affected communities.

“A Stratford and South Taranaki unitary council would better reflect the needs of our rural and smaller-town communities, while still allowing regional functions to be managed in a co-ordinated way where that makes sense,” Volzke said.

New Plymouth District Council had joined forces with Taranaki Regional Council to draw up reform proposals, which the southern councillors read as leaning towards a single body for the whole region.

But Volzke said Stratford and South Taranaki wanted to keep collaborating with New Plymouth and the regional council to continue to deliver regional services.

Last week New Plymouth District Council postponed making a choice on the council revamp.

Councillors instead voted to “identify multiple draft options” in what they called a “pathfinder proposal” to meet the Head Start deadline.

They had no choice but to kick for touch: Head Start bids must come from at least two district councils, and New Plymouth so far doesn’t have a partner.

Mayor Max Brough dangled a lifeline, saying the Waitomo Mayor “indicated that they would be open to having discussions in the future as well, should their proposal not get as far as they hope”.