Future of Local Government community survey results
Masterton District Council’s recent Future of Local Government Survey has seen the Masterton community clearly signalling that the Council should take advantage of the Government’s Head Start pathway to amalgamation but ensure it is good value for money and that a strong local voice is priority.
More than ninety four percent of respondents to the survey supported the Council leading its own reform, rather than waiting for a government-imposed outcome.
Value for money was the highest priority residents identified, narrowly ahead of the quality of infrastructure and services, with strong themes running through the survey around keeping decisions and community-facing services local where possible, and ensuring any change works to improve affordability.
Mayor Bex Johnson thanked Mastertonians for their clear input.
"Our community has told us what they want, and they have not been shy about it. The job now is to take everything people told us, including affordability and protecting core services, and make the best call we can for our district. Local matters to us, but local at any cost is not what people have asked for. They want value for money.
“Affordability with local decision making will be the test we hold every option against."
The survey drew 559 submissions, with Mayor Johnson emphasising that it was a genuine effort to understand community priorities, not a binding vote.
"I firmly believe it was important to hear our community’s priorities early. Having the views of our community at the table and understanding what matters most to them will be a key part of our discussions.”
Mayor Johnson acknowledged the work currently underway across the wider region in considering what a broader territorial model could look like.
"Whilst this work goes on, my focus remains squarely on Masterton’s ratepayers, our services, and our voice being at the table where decisions that impact us will be made. I intend to make sure that view is front and centre of future decisions, not an afterthought."
Mayor Johnson was upfront that the timelines are tight.
"I want to be straight with people about this. The government has set a hard deadline of 9 August, and that is not ours to move.
“Our community was clear that they want us to leverage the Head Start pathway. If we sit on our hands, the decision about Masterton's future gets made for us through the government's backstop pathway, with far less say for our community.
“Ninety-four percent of people told us they do not want that, so we will continue exploring our options, guided by what the community has told us and the modelling we are receiving, and we will be honest about any trade-offs as we go."
When asked whether they preferred a Wairarapa Unitary Authority or go with a wider Wellington authority, 80.5% of respondents were in favour of the Wairarapa option, over 11.5% who preferred a wider Wellington model. This appeared to be driven by the desire to ensure local decision making remains local where it matters most.
The Council expects to receive the financial analysis for both a Wairarapa model and wider Wellington models in late July and will share what it shows. A decision on a proposal is expected quickly following that information being available.
Mayor Johnson said any proposal submitted will signal the start of an open conversation, not the end of one.
"Any outline proposal we agree to proceed with in August is a beginning, not a done deal. The final decision as to whether a proposal progresses sits with central government. If a proposal proceeds, there is more detailed financial work, structural design and further consultation to come before anything is locked in.
“It’s important we get all of the information on the table, to help guide our thinking, such as the recent report that highlights that Greater Wellington Regional Council currently spends more in Wairarapa than it collects locally, effectively subsidising the region. If Wairarapa became a standalone authority, this subsidy would be lost, meaning additional local revenue may still be needed despite potential cost efficiencies.
“People will get more chances to have their say if any proposal is approved by Government. Right now, our job is to make sure Masterton and the Wairarapa is holding the pen on its own future."
The full survey results and a summary of what the community told us are available at [link].
Ends
Notes to editors
- The Future of Local Government survey ran until 11.59pm on Friday 19 June 2026. It received 559 submissions from 487 submitters. It was a feedback opportunity to understand community priorities, not a formal consultation under the Local Government Act 2002.
- The government's Head Start pathway, announced on 5 May 2026, gives councils until 9 August 2026 to submit outline proposals for new unitary authorities. Councils that do not participate fall under a government-led backstop process after the 2028 local elections.
- Independent benchmarking by Morrison Low Advisory (June 2026) found a Wairarapa unitary authority could be operationally feasible and could deliver combined district and regional functions at a lower underlying operating cost than current arrangements. It also found the Wairarapa currently benefits from the wider Wellington rating base, which a standalone model would need to address. The Council awaits separate financial analysis on a wider Wellington model.
- Key survey findings:
- 80.5% support a single Wairarapa authority with Carterton and South Wairarapa; 11.5% support a wider Wellington authority.
- 94.3% support taking the Head Start pathway.
- Value for money was the top-ranked community priority (4.06 out of 5), ahead of quality of infrastructure and services (4.03).
- Clear accountability for local decisions was the top representation priority (4.16 out of 5).
- More than 50% of respondents wanted all listed services managed locally. Community facilities (91.4%), parks and reserves (87.8%) and community development (86.2%) had the strongest local-delivery preference. Public transport (39.3%) had the strongest support for regional delivery.
