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Northern Action Group's proposal to de-amalgamate from Auckland Council is the first application of its kind since the Local Government Act was amended in 2012, allowing communities to change council structures.
But there are a number of hurdles the group must clear for their proposal to be accepted. If the Commission decides to assess the application, it will call for alternative proposals for a council in Mahurangi. These can include a different council structure for the area or different boundaries. People will have at least 20 working days to submit a proposal.
The Commission will then determine a preferred option, which could include Mahurangi remaining with Auckland Council.
But if the Commission decides the status quo is not the preferred option, it will draft a structure for a council for consultation.
Local Government Commission principal advisor Donald Riezebos says that process would take several months. The proposal to amalgamate councils in Wellington took a year to develop a draft proposal. While a Rodney proposal wouldn’t take that long, it would still take many months, he says.
After consultation, the Commission would then develop a final proposal. There is then a three-month period to allow members of the public to gather a petition to oppose the new structure. If 10 per cent of the electorate sign a petition, it goes to a vote. If less than 50 per cent of voters are in favour of the proposal, then it is abandoned.
Members of NAG hope to have the process finalised in time for the local body elections next October. However, Mr Reizebos says this is very optimistic.
“The electoral commission starts working towards the local body elections in May, so it would be difficult to have the process completed in time.”
But if the process wasn’t finalised in time for next year’s election it won’t mean a new council can’t be established for another three years.
“An election for a new authority doesn’t have to align with the general local body elections. It can happen at any time.”
This month the Commission decided not to proceed with its draft proposals to amalgamate councils in Northland and Wellington, but it has issued a final proposal to replace Napier City, Wairoa District, Hastings District and Central Hawke’s Bay District, and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council with a single authority.
