On 17 July 2026, Property Council submitted to Wellington City Council on their amalgamation survey consultation.
Why this matters to our members
Central government announced a new “Headstart” pathway for local government reform, giving local authorities across New Zealand until 9 August 2026 to come up with proposals to join up with neighbouring authorities. There are eight different councils in the Wellington region which could be options for local government reorganisation. Any councils that decide not to take the Head Start pathway, or cannot agree on a new arrangement, will enter a compulsory amalgamation process after the 2028 local government elections (“Back Stop”).
Our view
Property Council supports local government amalgamation and commends Wellington City Council for considering options to reorganise under the Head Start pathway. In particular, Property Council supports reorganisation where it can enable efficient infrastructure delivery, integrated planning, economic growth and a consistent regulatory framework for the property sector to navigate. In conjunction with our members, we have developed some principles we would like Council to consider in their decision-making process.