Simplifying Local Government

Council writes to the Minister on the future of Ruapehu

Following Council's decision on 29 July not to put forward a Head Start proposal, we've now written to the Minister of Local Government, Hon Simon Watts, setting out Ruapehu's position on what happens next.

The letter, sent 8 August 2026, thanks the people of Ruapehu, our iwi partners and our neighbouring councils for the way they've engaged with us over the past few months. It sets out where Council stands: open to change, guided by evidence and community direction, and clear that whatever structure follows, it must be built on Te Tiriti, on Council's partnership agreements with iwi, and on the settlement obligations that apply across this rohe.

Our iwi partners have put their own approach to Council, the Affinity Proposal, which is attached to the letter. It is grounded in Ngā Maunga o Te Rohe, the maunga that give this part of the country its identity, together with the awa that flow from them and the Treaty settlements that sit across them. Its starting point is the relationship between people and place, not council boundaries. Council welcomes this approach, and it is one of the options we would like to give serious consideration to.

Read the full letter here

We're also a party to the joint letter sent by Manawatū-Whanganui mayors, which speaks for the region as a whole.

Read the full letter here

Council will keep working with our community, iwi partners and neighbouring councils as the next stage of reform takes shape.

Council resolves not to put in Head Start proposal

The Ruapehu District Council has resolved today (29 July 2026) not to submit a unitary authority amalgamation proposal under the Government's Simplifying Local Government "Head Start" pathway.

The Government invited councils to submit proposals by 9 August for new unitary authority arrangements that would combine district and regional council functions into a single council.

As no proposal will be submitted, Ruapehu District Council will now move into the Government's "Back Stop" process.

Mayor Kirton said there remained significant uncertainty about what happens next with both the Head Start and Back Stop pathways currently being Cabinet policy rather than law and the general election adding further uncertainty around the timing and final shape of any reforms.

“Council has spent the past three months talking with the community, iwi partners and neighbouring councils about what local government reform could look like for Ruapehu.

When the Head Start pathway was first announced, I believed putting forward a proposal would give Ruapehu the best opportunity to influence its future," Mayor Kirton said.

"However, those discussions have highlighted just how complex the issues are and how many different perspectives need to be considered."

Public statements from other regional mayors indicate that so far, no Head Start amalgamation proposals will be submitted from within the Horizons region before the Government's deadline.

Mayor Kirton said he wanted to thank people for engaging with the process and raising the wide range of factors they wanted reflected in any future council structure which will help inform future discussions.

"People talked about access to health services, river catchments, iwi boundaries, links to the maunga, economic connections, communities of interest, and even whether different parts of the district should align with different regions. There was no single option that clearly stood out."

Ultimately, due to the short timeframe, no neighbouring council chose to develop a joint unitary authority proposal with Ruapehu.

Council will tell the Minister of Local Government that it remains committed to local government reform and will continue working on future options, subject to further engagement with the community, iwi partners and any formal consultation required.

Council also agreed to sign a joint regional letter to the Minister, with Horizons councils signalling their intention to work together on a locally led process to explore regional, sub-regional and cross-boundary options.

"While the Back Stop was ultimately our only option, we believe it's also the best one. It gives us the time and space to work through the issues properly with everyone involved.

While the details of the Back Stop process are still being developed, Ministers have indicated they intend to work with affected councils to develop arrangements that suit each region while still meeting the Government's reform objectives.”

Mayor Kirton said it was also important for people to understand that the final decision rests with central Government.

"Council will continue advocating for the outcome that best serves Ruapehu, but ultimately any decisions about the future structure of local government will be made by the Government."

Community Update July 2026

The Government wants fewer, larger councils. Under the policy Cabinet announced in May 2026,councils would combine into new unitary councils that also take on the work regional councils do now. This is Cabinet policy at this stage, not yet law, but the direction is set. What Ruapehu can choose is the pathway. We can put forward a proposal, which has been agreed with the majority of the other councils involved now, through the voluntary Head Start pathway which if approved by cabinet would be implemented in time for the 2028 elections, or work with the Government to decide an arrangement with us after the 2028 elections (the backstop) and implemented in time for the 2031 elections. Council will decide which pathway to take on 29 July 2026. Since May we have been out listening: at community hui, through the What Matters Most for Ruapehu survey, and with our iwi partners.

Three options on the table

Each option would create one new unitary council doing the work of both district and regional councils. No decision has been made.

Option 1: The current Horizons region

One council for Ruapehu, Whanganui, Rangitīkei, Manawatū, Palmerston North, Horowhenua and Tararua. About 260,000 people. Keeps our rivers and catchments together, which fits the new planning rules well. It is also the biggest and most varied option, so keeping a strong local voice for a small rural district would matter most here.

Option 2: Ruapehu, Whanganui, Rangitīkei and Taupō

About 121,000 people, with two main service towns in Whanganui and Taupō. Builds on our rural character, the Whanganui River connection to the south and the mountain visitor economy to the north. It crosses the current regional boundary, so how rivers and catchments are managed would need to be worked through.

Option 3: Ruapehu, Taupō, Waitomo, Ōtorohanga and South Waikato

A King Country grouping of about 100,000 people looking north, with strong tourism, farming and iwi connections across the Central Plateau. Like Option 2 it crosses the regional boundary and splits the Whanganui catchment, so the same questions would need working through.