Build a bigger council.

What this tool compares

• Combined population and land area.
• Published 2024/25 average residential rates.
• Historic net assets per resident at 30 June 2024.
• Where the combined population would live.

How the calculator works

1. Choose two or more of New Zealand’s 67 territorial authorities.
2. The calculator combines their published population, land area and historic balance-sheet figures.
3. It pools published 2024/25 average residential rates to show the indicative direction of change.

The result is a comparison, not a forecast or an official amalgamation proposal.

Common questions

What does council amalgamation mean?

Council amalgamation means combining two or more existing councils into one local authority. Any actual reform would require an official process and decisions that this tool does not model.

Are the rates figures predictions?

No. They compare published 2024/25 average residential rates. They do not predict the bill for an individual property or decisions a future council might make. See the rates method.

What do net assets per resident mean?

This is a historic accounting comparison: council assets less liabilities at 30 June 2024, divided by population. It is not cash available to residents and does not forecast a merged council’s balance sheet. See the source details.

Where does the information come from?

The calculator uses published council and public-sector data. The full sources, calculation method and limitations are available on the About and method page.

Data coverage

Covers all 67 New Zealand territorial authorities. Rates comparisons use published 2024/25 averages. Net assets use council accounts at 30 June 2024.