Lower Hutt mayor’s amalgamation plan: A unitary authority and six community councils
Justin Wong|Local Democracy Reporting, July 9, 2026 • 4:40pm
Ken Laban proposes Wellington and Wairarapa will form a single 20-member authority which will need a super majority to pass its budget and will devolve some powers to local “community councils”.
His proposal is not the Wellington region’s final amalgamation plan that needs to be submitted by the Government’s August 9 deadline, but a draft of what governing a region of 543,000 people could look like. “People told us they support working together, but not at any cost. They want confidence that their community won’t lose its identity, its voice or control over the things that make it unique,” Laban said.
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