I note Auckland City Council has begun urgent meetings to find ways to cover a half billion dollar funding shortfall, each year for the next 10 years, and look at ways to reduce spending by up to $2.8b.

Media reports say Mayor Len Brown's election promise was to cap rates rises to 2.5 per cent.

Amalgamation hasn't been the financial panacea many ratepayers had hoped for.

In Noosa, Australia, the Noosa Shire Council went through a process of de-amalgamating from its neighbour, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

Other councils to de-amalgamate last year include Livingstone Shire Council from Rockhampton, Mareeba Shire Council from The Tablelands Regional Council and Douglas Shire from Cairns Regional Council.

Different community needs, concerns and issues are some of the reasons for people not supporting amalgamation.

Financial savings are obviously not guaranteed.

Is bigger always better? Not if the learnings from Auckland and Queensland are anything to go by.

It would appear the only people to benefit are consultants and lawyers involved in this type of work.