Something I missed: National's local government reforms will allow big councils to take over little ones without their consent:
Rules for triggering an amalgamation vote would be changed, and the requirement for a majority in each of the areas considering a merger would be dumped, in favour of a majority across the whole area.Which means that large population areas can push for a merger, and just outvote their smaller neighbours. Oh, there'll be a requirement for "significant community support" in the vassal area - but that still means that its fate will be decided by a minority of its residents. Which simply isn't democratic. But given their past actions in Auckland and Canterbury, that's just par for the course for National.
