Council extends feedback time for merger proposals - Councillor news July 2026

Waikato District Council has extended the time for public feedback on its merger proposals until Tuesday 14 July.

You are likely to be voting for a different, much larger, unitary council at the next local body elections in 2028. The Government has signalled major changes to local government and has invited councils to help shape what comes next through a voluntary process called “Head Start”.

We want to make a recommendation to the Government that genuinely reflects the priorities and aspirations of our communities and so we have extended the deadline for public feedback until after the Matariki weekend.

The proposals are still subject to change and include a:

• Waikato regional approach combining (i) all councils in the Waikato region, or (ii) a group of councils in the western Waikato covering the Waikato-Waipā river catchment (with a second group of councils in eastern Waikato covering the Waihou-Piako catchment.

• Hamilton-Waikato-Waipa grouping, based on the original Future Proof group of councils

• Hamilton ‘metro’ approach providing a growth area for Hamilton, with the rural Waikato in a different council

• ‘Do nothing’ option, and let the Government decide for us under its “Simplifying Local Government” programme.

The Government wants proposals that are deliverable, support the new planning system replacing the RMA, simplify local government (combining both regional and district councils), provide economies of scale and maintain local voice.

Thank you to all those who turned up to discuss the options with your Mayor and local councillors at meetings across the district - and across our Ward in Matangi, Tamahere, Newstead, Tauwhare, Puketaha, Gordonton and Eureka. We’ve heard that rates affordability, managing debt and a strong local voice are some of the things that really matter to you, so please take the extra opportunity over the next few days to make sure we’ve heard everything you want to say. (Photo: Cr Crystal Beavis (left) and Mayor Aksel Bech (right) at the Tamahere Country Market speaking about the Council merger proposals.)

Please give us your feedback by 14 July to help shape a final proposal to be made to Government by 9 August. Find out more here: www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/slg and then have your say here.

Proposal to reclassify the Tamahere Piazza:

The Council is proposing to reclassify the Tamahere Piazza from Local Purpose (Sewage) Reserve to Local Purpose Reserve (Community Use) to better align with current and intended use of the space. The current classification of the area was originally designed to accommodate sewage disposal from local shops, but as no wastewater infrastructure was installed under the piazza area, a new classification was identified as being more appropriate.  Submissions close on 22 July – please go to www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/say-it.

Reminders for noting:

• Dog registration due by 31 July - Waikato District Council is issuing a lifetime metal dog registration tag from 1 July and moving to a paperless system to record payment of your annual registration fees. The purpose is to make dog registration easier and more efficient (providing administrative savings of about $51,000 each year after the initial set-up). Dog registrations can now be paid through Afterpay at a Council office or library providing a practical alternative for customers who cannot pay upfront.  If you submit a recent dog desexing certificate when renewing your dog’s registration you are eligible for one free year of registration. Owners with a community services or gold card can apply to the Council’s PUP fund programme to limit the cost of desexing to $80. Penalty dog registration fees apply after 31 July.

• Annual Plan adopted – last month Council formally adopted its Annual Plan for 2026/27 confirming a general rates rise of 2.8% and an average overall rates increase of 3.79% (depending on the services you get.)

• IAWAI – From 1 July the new Waters CCO jointly owned by Waikato District and Hamilton City is now responsible for delivering drinking water and wastewater services. Water charges will be itemised separately alongside your council rates and you will continue to get water meter bills twice a year. You can continue to use the same payment options and can contact the Council if you have any water issues.

Two more projects referred for Fast Track consideration in Waikato District

Two more projects can be added to the list of 12 projects identified in a Council report in May as being under consideration for fast tracking in Waikato District. This brings the total on the fast track development path in the district to 14.

Both the additional projects are in the Tamahere-Woodlands Ward. They are ‘Greenhill Industrial’, a proposed 180 ha industrial park bounded by Puketaha Rd and Greenhill Rd just east of the Waikato Expressway; and Waikato Thoroughbred Racing’s ‘Greenfield’ project to build a thoroughbred and harness racing and training super-hub in Tamahere.

This means the number of fast track projects preparing ‘substantive’ (full) applications in the Tamahere-Woodlands Ward is now five. The other three are: ‘Hamilton Southern Links’, being designed to complete the ring route linking western Hamilton (SH1C) to SH1 in Tamahere (but with no fixed construction date); ‘Gordonton Country Estate’, a 659-unit retirement village proposed for Gordonton; and ‘Ruakura (R2) Growth Cell’, a major housing, retail and industrial development proposed for a 211 ha site in Puketaha west of the Waikato Expressway. (This development is expected to trigger a boundary change between Waikato District and Hamilton City, although work on this is postponed while council mergers are pending).

Two more projects in the Ward are working towards fast track consideration, but have not yet applied. They are ‘Awanui Links’, a proposed golf resort and mixed-use precinct and retirement village on land bounded by Telephone and Holland Rds, and ‘The Rest Tauwhare’, a mixed use development proposal in Tauwhare, with an agri-education institute, livestock farming facilities, and a retirement village.

So far one fast track project in Waikato District has won approval for development. The ‘Green Steel’ structural steel manufacturing plant, approved in March and now under development in Hampton Downs, will recycle scrap steel using an electric arc furnace and on-site solar power.

Note on the Fast Track process - The Fast-track Approvals Act is designed to speed up infastructure, housing and development projects of regional or national significance. For developments not already listed under the Act, the first stage is an application for Ministerial ‘referral’ (approval) to use the fast-track process. The second stage is a ‘substantive’ (full) application to an independent expert panel for the approvals, resource consents and conditions needed for the project. The independent expert panel will typically invite comments from local bodies (regional and district councils), relevant government ministries, iwi authorities, hapu, and directly affected landowners (on adjacent land only).  Under the Act, the Council’s role is limited to providing technical information when requested by the independent expert panel convened to consider the substantive application.  There is no formal public notification or public submission process. For more info go to: www.fasttrack.govt.nz.

Manaawatia a Matariki

The Maaori New Year is a time for people to gather and celebrate new life, remember those who’ve passed and to plan for the future. Have a good weekend!

Contact your Tamahere-Woodlands Councillors:

Crystal Beavis, mob 0275 957 927, email 

Mike Keir, mob 027 449 3012, email