Lower Taxes, Less Waste,
More Accountability

Championing Value For Money From Every Tax Dollar

Petition: No amalgamation of local councils without a referendum


Amalgamation graphic

It may make sense for councils to combine some or all of their services but this should be a decision for local ratepayers who are ultimately the ones who will be paying for a new structure. 

Councils must not dive headfirst into amalgamations without first thinking it through. We've seen what happened with Health NZ and polytechnics when Labour tried that – it doesn't always go as planned. 

Bigger doesn't always mean cheaper, and often it can end up costing more with extra layers of bureaucracy added while the same number of people still need functioning pipes, roads to drive on and rubbish to be collected. 

Any amalgamation proposal must be based on clear cost benefit analysis and have majority support by the local communities involved.

"I call on councils not to amalgamate without support via a referendum from the local community."

Who's signing

Glennis Diggle
Alexander Hildreth
Mary Price
Michael Rice
Paul Thew
Kathleen Richmond
Galina Couvee
Josephine William
Kathleen Anderson
Joseph Partridge
Brian Bailey
Heather Newkirk
Geoffrey Dunne
Michael Messenger
Heath Keo
Rod Haycock
Josh Cumberland
Suzette Deed
Shane Miller
Gordon Hayes
Shane Richards
Chris Brown
Rachael Robinson
Steve McPhee
Glenda Keegan
Rochelle Bates
Richard Noall
Jeremy Harris
Christine Inglis
Melissa Bult-Burns
1,249 SIGNATURES
1,500 signatures

Will you sign?


Showing 1227 reactions

  • Glennis Diggle
    signed 2024-08-19 12:46:20 +1200
  • Alexander Hildreth
    signed 2024-08-19 12:34:25 +1200
  • Mary Price
    signed 2024-08-19 12:30:38 +1200
  • Michael Rice
    signed 2024-08-19 12:17:21 +1200
  • Paul Thew
    signed 2024-08-19 12:06:50 +1200
  • Kathleen Richmond
    signed 2024-08-19 11:59:53 +1200
  • Galina Couvee
    signed 2024-08-19 11:54:36 +1200
  • Josephine William
    signed 2024-08-19 11:43:04 +1200
  • Kathleen Anderson
    signed 2024-08-19 11:09:20 +1200
  • Joseph Partridge
    signed 2024-08-19 11:09:02 +1200
  • Brian Bailey
    signed 2024-08-19 11:01:30 +1200
  • Heather Newkirk
    signed 2024-08-19 11:00:50 +1200
  • Geoffrey Dunne
    signed 2024-08-19 10:52:18 +1200
  • Michael Messenger
    signed 2024-08-19 10:45:16 +1200
  • Heath Keo
    signed 2024-08-19 10:34:08 +1200
  • Rod Haycock
    signed 2024-08-19 10:33:53 +1200
  • Josh Cumberland
    signed 2024-08-19 10:33:41 +1200
  • Suzette Deed
    signed 2024-08-19 10:28:52 +1200
  • Shane Miller
    signed 2024-08-19 10:22:29 +1200
  • Gordon Hayes
    signed 2024-08-19 10:18:25 +1200
  • Shane Richards
    signed 2024-08-19 10:07:15 +1200
  • Chris Brown
    signed 2024-08-19 10:03:59 +1200
  • Rachael Robinson
    signed 2024-08-19 09:48:40 +1200
  • Steve McPhee
    signed 2024-08-19 09:48:26 +1200
  • Glenda Keegan
    signed 2024-08-19 09:44:49 +1200
  • Rochelle Bates
    signed 2024-08-19 09:31:36 +1200
  • Richard Noall
    signed 2024-08-19 09:28:02 +1200
  • Jeremy Harris
    signed 2024-08-19 09:24:20 +1200
  • Christine Inglis
    signed 2024-08-19 09:24:05 +1200
  • Melissa Bult-Burns
    signed 2024-08-19 09:02:37 +1200

Join Us

Joining the Taxpayers' Union costs only $25 and entitles you to attend our annual conference, AGM and other events.

Donate

With your support we can make the Taxpayers' Union a strong voice exposing waste and standing up for Kiwi taxpayers.

Tip Line

Often the best information comes from those inside the public service or local government. We guarantee your anonymity and your privacy.