The head start pathway allowed councils to propose reorganisation plans. The Government encouraged these to be unitary authorities, with regional council and territorial authority functions.
Otherwise, the fate of councils rested with compulsory Government-led reforms through the backstop process.
Regional councillors would be disestablished at the 2028 local elections.
Councillor Shane Beech said the Western Bay was “damned if we do, damned if we don’t” when councillors debated the pathways following community consultation.
Beech said either of the Government’s pathways would result in the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Tauranga City Council being amalgamated.
More than 2000 pieces of feedback were received from 262 submitters.
The most popular scenarios, each receiving 27% support, were a sub-regional unitary authority and a Western Bay unitary authority.
A sub-regional unitary authority would see councils from the Western Bay and Tauranga combine, and take on Bay of Plenty Regional Council functions.
The proposed sub-regional unitary authority. Image / Western Bay of Plenty District Council
A Western Bay unitary authority would see the Western Bay council survive but increase its scope to include regional council functions.
The community expressed concerns about taking on debt from other councils, retaining a strong local voice, and fair treatment of rural and urban communities.
Councillor and Deputy Mayor Margaret Murray-Benge said the council would no longer function alone under the incoming reform.
“Staying on our own clearly isn’t an option.”
She was part of the majority who voted to proceed on the head start pathway and develop proposals for two mergers.
As well as a sub-regional authority, the council would explore forming a regional unitary authority including all councils in the Bay of Plenty.
The latter had 19.6% public support in consultation.
Mayor James Denyer and councillors Grant Dally, Rodney Joyce, and Darlene Dinsdale also voted in favour.
“We are dreaming if we think it’s going to be easier after the election,” Murray-Benge said.
Proposals would be developed for a Bay of Plenty-wide regional unitary authority and a sub-regional unitary authority.
The councils in the proposed regional unitary authority. Image / Western Bay of Plenty District Council
The benefits of a Bay of Plenty-wide merger, as identified by council staff, were more efficient planning, a new planning system, and a simplified local governance arrangement.
These benefits were also identified for the sub-regional option, alongside alignment with SmartGrowth and alignment with boundaries used for the shared Tauranga/Western Bay water organisation and regional deal.
SmartGrowth and the Western Bay regional deal are growth partnerships between councils.
The council decided against other merger options, with Denyer describing some as “non-starters”.
These included merging district councils, splitting the Western Bay council, the Western Bay council surviving, or waiting for the compulsory reforms.
Tauranga City Council agreed last week to work on a unitary authority proposal with some or all Bay of Plenty councils and willing adjoining district councils from other regions.
Head start outline proposals were due by August 9.
Cabinet would assess these and advise councils on the outcome in September.
Final proposals for those chosen to progress were due March 2027, with subsequent decisions expected in May.
If proposals were declined or a council opted for the backstop pathway, this process would begin after the 2028 local elections.
Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.