Upper Hutt is unlikely to join a Wellington metro authority with Wellington, Lower Hutt and Porirua, according to a leaked email from Wellington mayor Andrew Little.

Little told Wellington City councillors that Upper Hutt sees inclusion in an unwanted proposal as being “co‑opted against their will”. The email said Upper Hutt mayor Peri Zee planned to ask councillors across the region to amend any proposal to remove Upper Hutt, and had arranged for two Wellington City councillors to do so. Little noted ministers could still impose a structure regardless of council positions.

Zee would not confirm the email’s claims. She said Upper Hutt had not decided its stance ahead of an August 5 meeting, and that its focus remained on costs, benefits and local representation. She asked other councils to respect formal decisions made by their peers.

Little’s email also said Horowhenua would not join Wellington, and the three Wairarapa councils were likely to form a unitary authority.

At a Wellington City Council briefing, councillors asked whether a council withdrawing could push Wellington into the Government’s “backstop”, where ministers decide the region’s structure. Little said proposals inconsistent with new planning legislation could pose challenges.

Chief executives are preparing a paper outlining a unitary authority model with an elected mayor, councillors, Māori wards and subregional community councils. Detailed design would follow later.

Financial analysis by MartinJenkins estimated a Wellington–Porirua–Hutt Valley metro authority would cost $269m to establish, with projected efficiencies of $930m over 25 years — about $159.80 per property annually. A single Wairarapa authority would cost $42m and save $170m over 25 years — about $180.80 per property — but would face an $8m budget gap and lose Wellington subsidies, reducing expected savings.

Source: Justin Wong / LDR (Local Democracy Reporting) / Radio New Zealand

24/07/26