Clock Ticks On Council Reform As Ruapehu Ponders Next MoveJuly 28, 2026Ruapehu is struggling to find a merger partner as the deadline for local government reform proposals nears. Advisors Morrison Low analysed three unitary authority models for the council: whole Horizons region; Ruapehu, Rangitīkei, Whanganui and Taupō; federation/community council model. Ruapehu councillor Viv Hoeta suggested that because no merger partner had been found, local ideas could be taken to ministers regardless of Head Start criteria. Councils were going through long-term planning, many were facing taking on regional council functions, and Ruapehu council had launched a full level-of-services review to prepare for upcoming rate capping. “They just didn’t give us enough time to do a Head Start proposal if we wanted to.”