Opinion
Franklin residents will be split between the new Auckland Supercity, Waikato and Hauraki district councils.
The largely rural area south of Auckland had applied to become a stand-alone council but today received a letter from Local Government Minister Rodney Hide to say the proposal had been turned down.
Franklin District Mayor Mark Ball said Mr Hide wrote to the council to say: "I firmly believe that the reorganisation of the current eight Auckland councils into one Council for the whole region will strengthen the region's governance, and result in cost savings for rate-payers and tangible benefits to Auckland's communities.
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