Waikato – Roto ki te Moana – a proposal built around the river and its communities.
Council has invested time in working through what we heard and where we are heading. We have now completed two working sessions following the close of our targeted engagement. Councillors have given a clear and unanimous direction on the option that they want us to develop; Waikato – Roto ki te Moana is a proposal built around the Waikato River, and its communities.
What is important now is that we focus on what is best for our communities and the Waikato region as a whole, so we can arrive at a thorough proposal which best reflects that.
This shape:
- Centres on the Waikato River catchment and the communities connected by it.
- Aligns everyday life — where people live, work, travel and access services.
- Supports catchment-based planning and delivery — one of the strongest opportunities in community feedback.
Waikato – Roto ki te Moana:
- Spans 7 councils — 434,750 people across 19,671 km².
- Includes 18 urban areas and 30 rural settlements, and just 2% of the land is urban.
- Comprises 89 elected members across 28 wards, including 6 Maaori wards, plus 11 community boards, about 4,885 residents per elected member.
This configuration has 89 elected members across 28 wards, including 6 Maaori wards, plus 11 community boards, about 4,885 residents per elected member.
Maaori make up 16% of registered voters. 5 of 8 councils currently have Maaori wards.
Amalgamation may mean less elected members across a new council. What is important is how we protect representation and maintain communities of interest.
South Waikato belongs in this story. Part of the district sits naturally within the river catchment and the western grouping. For the communities that sit beyond the river boundary, we acknowledge more thought is needed — and they will not be left behind while that thinking is done.
On Friday 24 July 2026, Mayor Aksel sent a huge thanks to all the voices who have helped shape Council’s thinking. You can watch his video here.