Concerned Ratepayers Kapiti (CRK) has been closely following the Government’s proposals for possible local government amalgamation.

It is time to outline our position: we are open to amalgamation — but not amalgamation for amalgamation’s sake.

Any new arrangement must:

✅ Deliver a net financial benefit to Kapiti ratepayers
✅ Keep rates and spending under control
✅ Provide effective local representation and decision-making
✅ Be based on sensible boundaries, we suggest that they be based on natural water catchments
✅ Keep transition costs reasonable — not tens or hundreds of millions of dollars
✅ Be decided by Kapiti residents through a referendum

We do NOT support Kapiti being forced into a Wellington/Wairarapa amalgamation.

Kapiti residents should not be expected to help pay for Wellington’s expensive investment mistakes or years of underinvestment in essential infrastructure — nor should decisions affecting Kapiti be dominated by Wellington-based interests.

We believe Kapiti should be progressing with options to join with Horowhenua and potentially other councils to the north, provided it meets our tests.

If an amalgamation north cannot meet our tests, , we support Kapiti going it alone as a standalone unitary authority.

The process matters too.

We do not support the Government’s current amalgamation process – it is too rushed and has not provided the information needed for residents to make an informed decision.

CRK will be writing to Local Government Minister Simon Watts, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and our local MP Tim Costley, calling for a proper, fully informed process and requesting they reject a forced amalgamation with Wellington.  Kapiti residents, not other councils, should decide our future and have the final say.

We’ll keep you informed of their responses.

Our full position statement can be found HERE