35817 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

35817 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: 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?

Hon Simon Watts: 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.