Minister of Local Government, Revenue, and Climate Change, Simon Watts, was welcomed to Paeroa on June 5 for a series of meetings with local council staff from the region.
A major topic of conversation for the assorted councillors and mayors was the impending Local Government simplification, and Minister Watts said the talks had been constructive.
“We are very keen as government to work with local government, not against it,” he said.
“There is an acknowledgement, particularly in this region that the future state of local government needs to be fit for the future.”
Coromandel MP Scott Simpson said the meetings were an important opportunity for representatives from right across his constituency to meet and discuss the amalgamation possibilities.
“You have all of Hauraki, all of TCDC, a very big portion of Western Bays, a little bit of Waikato District Council, and over the top you’ve got Waikato Regional and Bay of Plenty Regional.
“That’s an awful lot of local government for 70,000 people, represented by one MP,” he said.
“Some councils are ready to think about amalgamations and that’s really what we’re trying to do, is give them the option.
“Every I doesn’t need to be dotted, every T doesn’t need to be crossed. Let’s have a concept plan and go from there.”
Ratepayers can also have their say on local government reform through public surveys on their council’s websites.
Thames-Coromandel District Council’s survey closes on June 15, while Hauraki District Council’s survey closes on July 17.
