Two small councils have taken opposing stances on the government's push for council mergers, with Southland District embracing the change and Ōpōtiki pushing back.
Local Government Minister Simon Watts and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop gave councils until August to submit reorganisation plans under the new Head Start approach, with forced changes if they fail to comply.
Southland District mayor Rob Scott told Nine to Noon his council had spent two years developing plans to amalgamate with Gore and absorb regional council functions. The region is currently split across three territorial authorities, with Southland District Council covering most of the land.
"We've found there is a lot of duplication, confusion and inefficiencies so that was the main driver for us to simplify how that worked," Scott said.
But Scott opposes a single council for all of Southland, arguing Invercargill should remain separate. Invercargill holds 1% of the region's land but 56% of its population. "We don't have an urban, rural divide at the moment, but my fear is under one council we'll create a rural, urban divide... with decisions based on what's best for urban," he said.
Ōpōtiki mayor David Moore questioned the entire premise of forced amalgamation. "I'm pushing back on this whole thing, it's just ridiculous the timeframe they've given," he said.
Moore argued that solutions for larger centres like Tauranga would not suit smaller districts, and worried those differences would be ignored. Under a proposed Bay of Plenty super council, Ōpōtiki would represent roughly 3% of the population. "So our representation would be next to zero. You will have a divide between the two communities," he said.
Moore also disputed claims that amalgamation would deliver cheaper rates or better services.