Key facts
- Councils involved
- Waitomo and Ōtorohanga district councils
- Proposal name
- Head Start
- Vote outcome
- Unanimous
- Population of proposed authority
- 20,000
- Area compared to Waikato
- 20% of the area of the Waikato
- Mayors
- Rodney Dow (Ōtorohanga), John Robertson (Waitomo)
Background
Waitomo and Ōtorohanga district councils have unanimously voted to push for the creation of a King Country Council, a single unitary authority that would replace the two existing councils. The proposal, named 'Head Start', would see the amalgamation of the two districts if the Government accepts it.
The name King Country (Te Rohe Potae) and its boundaries date back to the New Zealand Wars. Tāwhiao, the second Māori King, fled there when his capital, Ngāruawāhia, was invaded by colonial forces. He 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. The topic of amalgamation between Waitomo and Ōtorohanga has been discussed since at least 2004.
Current situation
Waitomo District Mayor John Robertson said his district shared a strong and unique identity with Ōtorohanga. 'Our communities already live, work, learn and play across district boundaries,' he said. 'We share a strong King Country identity, and this proposal reflects that while also recognising the importance of protecting local representation and local decision-making.'
Ōtorohanga District Mayor Rodney Dow told Local Democracy Reporting the vote was an indication of where Ōtorohanga and Waitomo want to be in the future. 'It's just the beginning and there's a lot of work to do,' Dow said. 'We think it's the right way forward for our people.'
In March this year, almost two months before the Government's ultimatum, Robertson had already obtained approval from his council to begin work on a King Country Council. If the Government approves this proposal, the new unitary authority will only have a population of 20,000.
| Council | Position | Proposed authority |
|---|---|---|
| Waitomo | Supports King Country Council | King Country Council |
| Ōtorohanga | Supports King Country Council | King Country Council |
| South Waikato | Supports Western Unitary Authority | Western Unitary Authority |
| Taupō | Rejected Head Start proposal | None |
Impacts
Both mayors expressed concern that if King Country were to amalgamate with a large urban centre like Hamilton, their smaller rural voice would be lost. 'We don't want to be part of a super city,' Dow said.
Robertson told Local Democracy Reporting his council rejected the Western Unitary Authority, and believed Waikato needed a 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 proposal could affect local representation and decision-making for residents of both districts. If approved, the new council would serve a population of about 20,000 across a large rural area.
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
It remains to be seen whether the Government will approve the King Country Council. Central Government has yet to advise what will happen to councils that have put forward proposals they don't endorse.
If the Government approves the proposal, the new unitary authority would be established with a population of 20,000. If it does not, the councils may need to consider alternative arrangements, possibly including joining a larger unitary authority.
The situation is complicated by other councils' decisions. South Waikato District Council voted to join the Western Unitary Authority, which in theory comprises Hamilton City, Waikato District, Waipa District, Waitomo, Ōtorohanga and Taupō. However, the two King Country councils and Taupō have already said they did not want to join this kind of unitary authority. The final structure of local government in the Waikato region may depend on the Government's response to the various proposals.
Source: nzherald.co.nz
