South Waikato backs Western unitary authority in 9-2 vote

South Waikato District Council will pursue a Western Unitary Authority proposal.

If Wellington accepts this, South Waikato will amalgamate with Waikato and Waipā Districts.

Initially, Waitomo, Ōtorohanga, Taupō and Hamilton were also included in the Western Unitary Authority.

However, Waitomo and Ōtorohanga decided to form their own King Country Council, Taupō decided against forwarding a Head Start proposal and Hamilton City is yet to decide on joining the Western Unitary Authority.

At South Waikato District Council’s July 30 meeting, elected members voted 9-2 in favour of the Western Unitary Authority.

Those who voted against were Tīrau Ward councillor Kerry Purdy and Putāruru Ward councillor Zed Latinovic.

Latinovic said he voted against the proposal as South Waikato residents wanted time to make governance decisions, and the council was being forced to rush.

“In reality, we are not choosing anything here,” Latinovic said.

Purdy said she made the original motion to investigate amalgamation options in June.

“I’m not against amalgamation, I can see positives in joining forces,” Purdy said.

“What I’m for is to be fully informed ... and for our community to be informed.”

In a council statement, South Waikato Mayor Gary Petley labelled the debate complex and messy, saying it’s left councils with little direction or clear answers.

“We are of the view that the Western Waikato Unitary presents the best alignment and opportunities for the South Waikato.

“This is far from the finish line. This decision does not confirm amalgamation or a point of no return; it simply keeps us at the table and pursuing the Head Start Pathway.”

A King Country Council?

The Te Kuiti Shearing Statue with Waitomo Mayor John Robertson. Photo / Waitomo District Council.

Waitomo Mayor John Robertson told Local Democracy Reporting his council rejected the Western Unitary Authority, as they believed Waikato needed a separate metro council and several smaller rural unitary councils.

“We want local government for local decisions to be made,” he said.

Robertson said one of the smaller rural councils should be a King Country Council.

“We would be 20% of the area of the Waikato. And while our population’s small, we’re very, very large.”

The King Country is a historic area, with its name and boundaries coming from the New Zealand Wars.

Tāwhiao, the second Māori King, fled there when his capital, Ngāruawāhia, was invaded by colonial forces.

Tāwhiao declared an aukati [border] on the Pūniu River near Kihikihi and Pirongia, meaning any Pākehā crossing the border would risk a fate reserved for invaders.

In 1884, Tāwhiao declared that the state of war between the Kīngitanga and the Crown was over.

Since then, the King Country has become famous for sport, farming and shearing.

Ōtorohanga District Mayor Rodney Dow told Local Democracy Reporting this origin story of the King Country meant his region had a unique history and character.

Both mayors told Local Democracy Reporting they wanted to preserve that uniqueness throughout these reforms.

However, while both mayors were open to talking about working with other councils, neither saw an immediate need to amalgamate.

Western option ‘hostile takeover’

This was an option being investigated by SWDC, but Taupō, Waitomo and Ōtorohanga are adamant they want no part in it. Photo / SWDC

Taupō District Mayor John Funnel said despite Taupō’s decision to not propose amalgamation, other councils did not seem to accept this.

“We don’t want to be dragged into an arrangement that will be terrible for our community,” Funnel said.

“We understand that they’re wanting to leverage our financial strength.”

He said if Taupō became part of the proposed Western Unitary Authority, it would be one of the worst options for the community.

“Debt could go from $900 per Taupō District rating-unit to almost $9000 per rating-unit.”

Petley would not comment on the rating-unit rise, saying a comprehensive analysis had yet to be completed.

Bronson Perich is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist for Taupō and South Waikato based at the Waikato Herald.

– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.