Wellington mayor Andrew Little hits out at amalgamation timing, ‘unnecessary provocation’ of Māori
Wednesday, 3 June 2026
Not a single Cabinet minister turned up to a Wednesday morning who’s who of Wellington, where mayor Andrew Little fired shots across the bow of the Beehive.
Speaking after the public address, in which he criticised the tight Beehive-imposed deadline for an amalgamation plan, Little labelled a Government announcement on Tuesday – that mana whenua voting rights on committees would be removed – “another unnecessary provocation by this Government towards [Māori].”
Little had just told the gathering, including mayors, councillors, political operatives and community leaders that the three-month timeframe – now 10 weeks – for councils to come up with an an amalgamation plan was far too short.
“My distaste for the Government’s deadline is not a reason to surrender to a model imposed from on high - with no community say, no mana whenua representation, and no regard for what makes this place special.”
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Not a single Wellington-based Cabinet minister was there to hear it. The closest was former Wellington mayor Andy Foster, now the NZ First spokesperson for the local government and associate transport portfolios. It is understood Resource Management Act Minister and Hutt South MP Chris Bishop, Local Government Minister Simon Watts and other local MPs were invited.
“Ministers were invited, MPs were invited, the MPs from the region,” Little said, adding he was not fussed by the no-shows.
“I appreciate, as it is a recess week, it's the week after Budget. Busy ministers have got a job to sell the Budget, so I expect there were reasons they couldn't be here.”
Little confirmed he had separately relayed his concerns about the timing to the Government and that any plan councils presented to the Government by August 9 “can’t be particularly detailed”.
“Ten weeks to design and submit a proposal for a new council, or councils, covering all of the responsibilities of Wellington City, Hutt City, Upper Hutt, Porirua, the three Wairarapa councils, Greater Wellington, and potentially Kāpiti Coast and Horowhenua.
“Ten weeks to consider services, assets, facilities, rating, fees and debt.
“Ten weeks to have deep, complex conversations in homes, businesses, lunchrooms, sports clubs and community organisations, schools, universities, online, and everywhere else.
“Let me be clear. We cannot have this conversation properly in 10 weeks.”
Bishop recently gave councils three months to come up with amalgamation plans, “or we will do it for you”.
Little has been largely for council amalgamation - likely Wellington City, Hutt City, Upper Hutt and Porirua with local functions of the Greater Wellington Regional Council rolled in due to a Government directive - but has had his doubts about aspects. Arguably most-pressing of those is mana whenua representation on councils.
Little, who has previously said amalgamation plans would have to go to a referendum, again stressed on Wednesday morning that local people should decide.
“At serious inflection points a mayor’s job is to lead. That’s why I’m taking the Government’s deadline seriously. Treating it as an opportunity, even.”
Watts said he was unable to attend as he was at a ministerial visit at Auckland Airport.
“I speak regularly with the mayor and have a very constructive relationship. Our Government has been clear that regional governance needs to be simpler and more effective over time,” he said.
*CORRECTION: An earlier version this story had given Andy Foster the title of associate transport minister. He is a spokesperson for the associate transport portfolio for NZ First. (Amended Wednesday June 3, 2026. 4.10pm)