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A plan to merge the local and regional council in the far north into a single unitary council with dedicated Māori seats is gaining traction.
The Local Government Commission has agreed to publicly notify the plan put up by the Far North District Council.
The commission says the application will also affect the Kaipara and Whangarei districts, so it has also asked for alternate application proposals to be lodged before April 15.
Rangitane Marsden, the iwi leaders' representative on the Better Far North Working Group, says iwi support the proposal because of the way it reflects a new partnership between the council and iwi.
Far North Mayor Wayne Brown says whatever happens with the proposal, the exercise has strengthened the council’s relationship with iwi.
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