Council reaffirms commitment to joint amalgamation proposal
Published on 29 October 2026
Thames-Coromandel District Council has voted to stay in its joint amalgamation proposal with Hauraki and Matamata-Piako district councils, rejecting a Notice of Motion that would have started the process of withdrawing.
The Notice of Motion was brought to today's Council meeting (Thursday 29 October) by a district councillor, with three fellow councillors in support as required under standing orders. It was lost 4 votes to 7. The full voting record will be published in the meeting minutes.
Today’s decision confirms the position Council took on 4 August, when it resolved to lodge the Waihou-Piako-Coromandel unitary authority proposal with the government under its Head Start process. The three councils submitted the proposal jointly in August.
Had it passed, the motion would have authorised Council to open discussions with the two partner councils about ending the Memorandum of Understanding that underpins the proposal and releasing TCDC from its commitments.
Mayor Peter Revell says the reasons for the proposal have not changed.
“The biggest financial pressure facing this district is the volume of water and other infrastructure renewals we have to fund over the next decade and beyond. On our own that is a very heavy load for our ratepayers. Working with neighbouring councils that share our catchments and our challenges gives us the scale to do it better.
“We made commitments to Hauraki and Matamata-Piako and to iwi in August, and today’s vote keeps faith with them. There is a great deal of detailed work still to come before anything is cemented, and the community will be part of that.”
In September the government announced that decisions on individual Head Start proposals would be deferred until after the 7 November general election. Officials are continuing to work on design issues common to all proposals, including representation, in the meantime.
Councils expect to hear from the incoming government on next steps early in the new year.
Mayor Revell says he is also keen to hear how any changes will be guided and supported.
“I’m looking forward to some clear, pragmatic decisions on the roadmap for any changes and how the work will be funded. That is important information for every council, not just those taking part in the Head Start process.”
The government has also signalled that regional councils will not be elected at the October 2028 local elections, with transitional arrangements to follow, as part of its wider local government reforms.