This week, the Clutha District Council issued a statement saying it had no plans or ambitions to amalgamate with any of its neighbours.
The statement followed the announcement of proposed changes to local government legislation signalled in the Better Local Government report, and referred to comments and speculation in the media about possible amalgamations in Otago and Southland, as well as elsewhere in the country.
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan said the council was a "very sound" unit of local government.
"We have taken the former local government minister [Nick Smith] at his word that the proposed changes are not about allowing larger authorities to take over smaller neighbours. We trust the new minister will have the same approach."
Mr Cadogan said the Clutha District Council had no real external debt, good provision for future infrastructure renewals, and was working towards meeting statutory requirements and community expectations.
"We have councillors who work well together and an organisation focused on good service provision."
He said the council already had shared services arrangements with its neighbouring councils and would continue to look at ways it could work with them and others to provide efficient services.
"There has to be community support and real benefits and advantages for all, for an amalgamation to be promoted."
This did not mean the Clutha District Council would not consider a proposal put to it. Such a proposal would need to show there were benefits to residents and ratepayers of the district and that local representation for communities was not reduced, he said.
