Otago councils divided over unitary authority proposal
Otago councils are advancing competing merger proposals, with some wanting to form a unitary authority that would exclude Dunedin.
Otago councils are working towards local government reforms under a Government deadline, but are split on how to proceed. Some councils are proposing a unitary authority that would exclude Dunedin, which a city councillor has criticised as impractical. Dunedin is instead pursuing its own reform approach as other councils develop their merger plans.
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What outlets are saying
Otago Daily Times
CODC to prepare head start proposal for unitary council
RNZ
Otago councils want to form unitary authority – without Dunedin
A Dunedin city councillor says a proposal to exclude the city from a new Otago unitary authority is "ridiculous", but the mayor behind it says it makes sense.
NZ Herald
Wellington councils advance ‘Head Start’ reform plans despite split over mega-merger
Councils are scrambling to meet the Government's looming deadline.