Simplifying Local Government
Latest update (20 August)
Western Bay of Plenty District Council is now part of a proposal that will be considered by Government and could see a new council created across Tauranga and Western Bay.
The change follows a decision by Rotorua Lakes Council yesterday to jointly submit an eligible Head Start proposal alongside Tauranga City Council as part of the Government's Simplifying Local Government reform programme.
If approved by Government, the proposal could see Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council replaced by a new council responsible for both local and regional council functions across the Western Bay sub-region.
Although Western Bay councillors narrowly voted on 6 August not to submit a Head Start proposal, Rotorua's decision means that under the Head Start rules, eligible proposals will be in place that enable the wider Bay of Plenty approach to be assessed by Government.
The proposal, alongside others nationwide, will now be assessed by the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) before recommendations are provided to Ministers in September.
6 August update
Western Bay of Plenty District Council will not submit a Head Start proposal as part of the Government's Simplifying Local Government reform programme.
At the 6 August meeting, councillors instead voted to participate through the Government-led Back Stop process.
However, that does not necessarily bring Western Bay's involvement in the Head Start process to an end.
Following Western Bay's decision, Tauranga City Council decided to continue with submitting a proposal for a new council covering Tauranga and Western Bay, bringing together both local and regional council responsibilities.
Tauranga City is using involvement in a Bay of Plenty-wide approach to submit an eligible proposal, as its decision forms part of a coordinated Bay of Plenty response to the Government's Simplifying Local Government reform programme. This includes all councils across the region – excluding Western Bay following its decision - submitting three aligned sub-regional proposals covering the western, central and eastern Bay of Plenty.
While Western Bay has chosen not to pursue a Head Start proposal itself, future decisions by Government on proposals submitted by other councils, or through the wider reform programme, may still have implications for the District.
Tauranga City Council's decision to proceed means Western Bay remains included within a proposal that will now be considered by Government.
You can read the full media release here - Council opts against Head Start proposal - but it’s not over - Western Bay of Plenty District Council
You can read the Council agenda paper here - Supplementary Reports Agenda of Council - Thursday, 6 August 2026
Or watch a recording of the Council meeting below
What happened before this decision?
At the 30 June meeting, Councillors agreed to continue assessing options for a Head Start proposal, narrowing the potential scenarios from five to two. These being:
- A Regional Unitary Authority covering all councils in the Bay of Plenty region (Western Bay, Tauranga City, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki), plus Bay of Plenty Regional Council functions
- A Sub-Regional Unitary Authority covering Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Tauranga City Council, plus Bay of Plenty Regional Council functions.
Both scenarios were to also consider the potential inclusion of Thames-Coromandel District Council as part of further investigation.
You can watch a recording of the 30 June Council meeting below, and view the 30 June Council agenda here: Agenda of Council - Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Community conversation - COMPLETED
Between Monday 25 May and Sunday 14 June we held a community conversation on whether Western Bay should stay largely as it is, or join with other councils in the future.
This included an online submission form and six in-person sessions right across our District - from Waihī Beach to Maketū - on the following five scenarios:
- Regional unitary authority – all councils in the Bay of Plenty region (Western Bay, Tauranga City, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki) reorganise to become one unitary authority that carries out all the functions of both local and regional council.
- Sub-regional unitary authority – Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Tauranga City Council reorganise to become one unitary authority that carries out all the functions of both local and regional council, within the existing Western Bay and Tauranga City boundaries.
- Provincial unitary authority – Western Bay of Plenty District Council and other district councils in the existing Bay of Plenty region (Rotorua, Whakatāne, Kawerau, Ōpōtiki, but excluding Tauranga City) reorganise to become one unitary authority that carries out all the functions of both local and regional council.
- District split – the Western Bay is split, with different parts of the District joining different councils. For example, Western Bay could be split into East and West areas based on current known geographic boundaries, and each of these areas could join with their neighbouring councils.
- Western Bay unitary authority – Western Bay of Plenty District Council doesn’t join with any other councils, but takes on the functions of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council that can best be delivered locally. A region-wide Council Controlled Organisation (CCO), jointly owned by other councils in the Bay of Plenty, is formed to take on those functions that are better delivered regionally. Some functions could be delivered at a national level. Note: While a Western Bay unitary authority does not fit the current Government’s criteria for the Head Start pathway, this option has been included to inform future decision making by Council.
You can read our discussion document in full here.
Thank you to everyone who took part and provided their views. People understand this is a complex process, and while Council doesn't have every detail or every answer yet - they still showed up, asked thoughtful questions, and been willing to work through what this could mean in practice.
What came through is an openness to exploring change, alongside support for further analysis and investigation to help inform decisions ahead of the 9 August deadline.
However, we heard consistent concerns around maintaining local voice and representation, along with a clear desire not to take on existing debt from other councils.
Other themes identified include the need for cost effective provision of services and ensuring both rural and urban voices are adequately represented.
You can read the full feedback submission pack as part of the 30 June Council agenda here: Agenda of Council - Tuesday, 30 June 2026
What’s this all about?
The current Government on 5 May 2026 announced a new Head Start pathway, giving councils the option of putting forward proposals for how local government could be reorganised in the future. Councils have until 9 August 2026 to do this.
The Head Start pathway gives councils an early opportunity to propose their own preferences for regional reorganisation into unitary authorities (combining regional and local council responsibilities).
There are a few conditions attached: two or more local councils (not regional councils) are required to work together on the proposal, and the proposal can incorporate other councils, whether they agree with the proposal or not.
Head Start proposals would be in place for the 2028 elections.
Those that choose not to be part of the Head Start pathway will continue through to the 2028 elections, under the Backstop process. This involves the Government reorganising existing councils into unitary authorities.
Head Start
The voluntary head start pathway provides councils an early opportunity to propose their own arrangements for regional reorganisation into unitary authorities (combine regional and local council responsibilities).
There are a few conditions attached: two or more councils are required to work together on the proposal, and the proposal can incorporate other councils, whether they agree with the proposal or not.
Head Start arrangements would be in place for the 2028 elections.
Back Stop
For regions that are not part of the Head Start pathway, district and city councils will continue through to the 2028 elections. The Back Stop process involves the Government amalgamating existing councils into unitary authorities after the 2028 elections. This process will be developed by the government in 2027.
See more information from the Government here: Head-Start-Simplifying-Local-Government-policy-document.pdf
