Head Start Decision Deferred Until After Election

The Government has decided not to announce decisions on Head Start proposals before the general election. All proposals, including the joint proposal by Hauraki District Council, Matamata-Piako District Council, and Thames-Coromandel District Council, remain on hold until after the election.

The three councils submitted a joint outline proposal in August 2026 for a new Waihou–Piako–Hauraki–Coromandel unitary authority. The Government has now advised that decisions on the next steps for local government reorganisation will be taken after the 2026 general election.

The councils welcome the pause. It means the Government are reflecting on the complexity of local government and how any future reforms will impact communities.

"We engaged in good faith and invested significant time, resources, and effort into developing a credible proposal that responded directly to the Government's objectives," the councils said in a joint statement.

“If the process restarts, that work will give us a strong base and we remain committed to working together to secure the best outcome for our communities.

"We hope all government parties will support local democracy by giving clear positions on local government reforms and the role local councils will play in shaping the future of their districts."

The councils will continue to engage with the Government for the best interests of their communities. All council services, activities, and planning will carry on as usual.

"Our priorities will not change," the joint statement continued. "We will continue to strive for cost-effective, transparent, and responsible local government with clear recognition of local character and voice, and ensuring the needs of our unique environments are recognised."

The three councils will continue to collaborate on shared regional priorities and engage with the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport as the Government works through key design issues.

Mayor Toby Adams says "This is disappointing news for our district. We put a lot of work into this proposal, and our community gave us valuable feedback. We will keep advocating for our people regardless of what comes next, and we'll keep working with our neighbouring councils on the issues that matter to our region."

Updates about the local government reform process and Head Start are available on our website.