Local democracy swept aside
If amalgamation weakened accountability and drove costs up in 1989, is there any reason to believe that even more heavy-handed mergers can deliver the opposite...
Tag : local government amalgamation
And the early winners are…
Each potential coalition of councils has essentially had to outsource the work around amalgamation to a consultancy because of a lack of internal capacity and capability, write...
The three f’s of amalgamation
After several false starts, it seems as though the Wellington region’s local governments are to amalgamate. What form this takes is still uncertain, but it...
Head Start is just the beginning
We are only just at the beginning of local government amalgamation in New Zealand. Head Start is not the destination, it is the starting point...
Let us in on the discussion
Most countries have a form of regional administration for public and environmental services. Some things, such as river catchments, flood control, public transport services and...
The rates question
Candidates in this year’s local body elections will no doubt be tempted to campaign on promises of low or even zero rate increases, given the...