Kaipara people will be able to elect their own council in October for the first time in four years, the government's confirmed.
The council has been run by commissioners since 2012, after it bungled the expansion of the Mangawhai sewerage scheme and racked up $80m in debt. Photo: Flickr user Sids1 / CC BY 2.0
But it's appointing a couple of minders to make sure it doesn't stray again from the path of good governance.
The Dargaville-based council's been run by commissioners since 2012, after it bungled the expansion of the Mangawhai sewerage scheme and racked up $80 million in debt.
Associate Minister of Local Government Louise Upston said the commissioners had made good progress in stabilising the council's finances, and it was time to restore it as a fully-elected body.
But she will appoint a Crown Manager to handle outstanding legal actions and a Crown Observer to advise and guide the new members.
Mangawhai ratepayers who challenged the former council's unlawful borrowing and rates still have cases before the court.