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Upper Hutt Rejects Regional Merger Push | Auckland News
Upper Hutt’s mayor is fiercely resisting a sweeping regional council merger that would combine Wellington, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Porirua, and Wairarapa councils — with Kāpiti possibly included. Mayor Peri Zee argues there’s no clear need for the merger, especially since joint bodies already handle key services like transport, and questions whether the promised $930 million in savings over 25 years outweighs the disruption for ratepayers. She plans to vote no and push for amendments to exclude Upper Hutt. Meanwhile, Wellington Mayor Andrew Little insists the merger is essential for long-term…
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