27/05/2026
People do not live their lives inside council boundaries. We cross them every day for work, school, sport, business, family, services and emergencies.
Central Government has made it clear that councils across New Zealand, including Hawke’s Bay, must work through amalgamation and reorganisation options.
That change is being driven from Wellington, but Hawke’s Bay has a real opportunity to shape what comes next so it better reflects how our region already works, including how services are planned, how decisions are made, and how communities are represented.
So next week, there are two important steps for Hastings...
‐-------------------
🤝 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲
On Tuesday 2 June, Hastings District Council will hold an extraordinary meeting to consider how the region’s councils will formally work together on this significant change.
Tuesday’s decision is not the options or final decision on amalgamation. It simply agrees that councils should share information, investigate options, and still make independent decisions for their own communities.
‐-------------------
👂 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀
The Government’s timeframe is tight, but I am clear that moving quickly must not mean shutting community voice out. So, next week Hastings District Council will also launch an initial community survey.
That survey is about hearing your priorities, concerns and opportunities early, before everything is already shaped.
The survey will not propose or ask you to choose a final structure. More detailed consultation on any final proposal and local representation, including councillor numbers, wards or local boards, will come later.
‐-------------------
Hawke’s Bay councils have until 9 August 2026 to look at options and prepare any high-level proposal they want Government to consider. If no proposal is put forward, or if Government does not accept one, the region moves into the later Government-led process.
My strong view is that Hastings and Hawke’s Bay should be active in shaping that change, rather than waiting for decisions to be made in Wellington.
For Hastings, that means listening early, testing the risks and opportunities properly, and making sure any decision Council takes on a proposal is based on what best serves our people while we work respectfully with our regional partners.
I’ll share the survey link next week once it is live.
