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Why did the Government not establish a Royal Commission or equivalent independent inquiry before requiring councils to propose amalgamations, given that a Royal Commission preceded the 2010 Auckland reorganisation?

Answered Question 35817 (2026)
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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • Why did the Government not establish a Royal Commission or equivalent independent inquiry before requiring councils to propose amalgamations, given that a Royal Commission preceded the 2010 Auckland reorganisation?

Answered by

Hon Simon Watts

Member for North Shore · National Party · Minister of Local Government

Answer

The Government considered that there was enough evidence to proceed with changes to the local government system and noted that there have been a number of reports on local government reform over many years, as well as local discussions about reorganisations that have not previously led to change.