A super Wairarapa council? Mayors discuss amalgamation

Friday, 1 May 2026

An aerial image over the Waiohine river in Wairarapa, where its three councils are talking about closer co-operation.

Councils north of the Remutakas could be joining forces, according to a new statement.

The mayors of South Wairarapa, Carterton and Masterton District councils have confirmed discussions about amalgamation and council structure were under way, with community engagement expected when practical proposals were available.

The confirmation was prompted by a statement from Masterton District Council late on Thursday.

“In light of community conversations and questions, and in the interest of transparency, (Masterton) Mayor Bex Johnson has confirmed that discussions around amalgamation and future structural options are continuing at a high level between mayors, chief executives, and senior leaders across the wider Wellington region including, but not limited to, the three Wairarapa councils,” the statement said.

Councils across the Remutaka Hill could be joining forces.

The move follows the Government signalling wide-ranging reform of the local government sector, including possible rate capping and changes to the regional council structure.

Johnson emphasised no decisions had been made, and all councils continued to operate in the usual way.

“However, as we navigate an increasingly complex environment, it’s important that we are having frank, open conversations about what the future of local government across the wider region may look like,” she said.

“Affordability, along with strong local voice and representation, remains at the forefront of all discussions and considerations. There is no single, unified regional position on amalgamation, which reflects the complexity and scale of the issue.

“We are committed to being open, transparent, and focused on achieving the best long-term outcomes for Masterton and the wider region.”

South Wairarapa Mayor Dame Fran Wilde, and Carterton Mayor Steve Cretney agreed.

Wilde said the comments reflected the current conversations.

“All three councils now seem to be aligned which is great,” she said.

“We are in a position to manage this process in a sensible way and be ready to engage with our communities when we have practical proposals.”

Cretney added it was important to ensure the transition to Waitī Waters was as smooth as possible. Waitī Waters is the new water entity for Wairarapa and Tararua District, set to be operational next July.

“Once that is complete, our council will be in a far better position to determine how an amalgamated council could look,” he said.

“Until that time, our council has several big projects to complete, and our focus will be on ensuring they're completed on time and to budget, while remaining ever alert to the ongoing central Government reforms.

“We have agreed to work with our neighbouring councils as an ongoing initiative, to share data, identify areas where collaboration could create efficiencies, and generally move forward in a positive manner, with amalgamation a potential outcome in the not-too-distant future.”

The statement from Masterton council said the discussions were taking place against a backdrop of change.

“Further complexity for local government includes uncertainty around the future of regional council functions and the potential for a change in Government later this year, which could alter direction. While legislation currently before Parliament may provide greater clarity later in the year, there remains a level of uncertainty,” it said.

Johnson’s comments acknowledged this.

“It’s really important that we keep our options open,” she said.

“Councils across the region remain deeply committed to working closely together, including considering shared services where practicable and supporting efficiencies of scale where appropriate. We are encouraging our teams to work collaboratively across council boundaries to identify and explore these opportunities.”

The statement said before any significant decisions or changes were considered, there would be meaningful consultation with communities.

“As future options become clearer, there will be appropriate opportunities to better understand the situation and engage,” it said.

A conversation about closer co-operation between South Wairarapa, Carterton and Masterton District Councils has been firmly on the table since early in this triennium, with a joint letter sent by the three councils to the Local Government Commission (LGC) seeking guidance on the issue in December. The letter was entitled “Information required to enable Wairarapa Councils to consider possible future amalgamation”.

An LGC spokesperson said in January there were two possible pathways for a reorganisation process: it could be commission-led or council-led.

“For a council-led process, it is up to the councils to determine their own approach and notify the commission of their intention to undertake this process.

“For a commission-led process, the commission must determine its approach on a case-by-case basis once it receives a formal request or initiative.”

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air