Hauraki is a good place to live, and we want to keep it that way through whatever comes next. Strong rural communities, towns with their own character, rivers and coastlines worth protecting, decisions made by people who know this place. How local government is organised is about to change across New Zealand, and Hauraki has a short window to help shape what that looks like here.
Whatever form it takes, the things local government looks after stay the same. The roads connecting our rural communities, the libraries and parks our families use, flood protection, the plans that decide what gets built in our towns. These belong to all of us, and how they're planned and funded depends on how local government is set up. We want to hear from you before we decide what Hauraki puts forward.
What's happening
On 5 May 2026 central government announced a voluntary three-month window, called Head Start, for councils to develop and submit their own preferred proposal for how local government in their area should be reorganised. The deadline is 9 August 2026.
Councils that put forward a proposal get to shape how any change happens. Councils that don't risk having a structure decided for them by central government after the 2026 local elections.
We'd rather front-foot the conversation than wait to be told. That starts with asking our community what matters most to you.
The options
There are three possible structures on the table, alongside the option of no change. They range from a smaller Eastern Waikato grouping through to a single Waikato-wide council. Each comes with its own opportunities and challenges, and we've set them all out so you can weigh them up yourself.
