Taupo's mayor describes council merger as hostile takeover

Taupo's mayor is pushing back against joining a Western Waikato council merger, which he's describing as a hostile takeover. Taupo District Council has decided not to submit any preferred amalgamation proposal and says the Western Waikato merger would result in ballooning debt for the region. Councils have until Sunday to present their merger proposals to the government. Mayor John Funnell spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.