Wellington councils send competing merger proposals to ministers after failing to agree

Wellington-region councils could not reach consensus on amalgamation at a 7 August meeting. They will submit two proposals to ministers: a region-wide Wellington merger and a separate Wairarapa-only authority. Upper Hutt opposed amalgamation and did not sign. Kāpiti Coast's bid for a standalone authority was rejected by the other councils. Ministers will now decide which proposals progress.