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Boroughs and towns

On the same day that Franklin County was formed, Pukekohe became a borough. The first borough elections were held on 1 May 1912. William Dunn, the first mayor, retired for health reasons after a few months, and was succeeded by Mr C.K. Lawrie.

In 1914 the people of Waiuku and Tuakau formed their own town districts. These became independent town districts soon afterwards, that is, no longer formed part of Franklin County. Mercer, which also became a town district in 1914, remained within the county until dissolved in 1962.

On 1 January 1955 Waiuku and Tuakau both proudly gained borough status.

Talk of amalgamation

Franklin County, which had its headquarters in Pukekohe, thus served a largely rural area surrounding the boroughs of Pukekohe, Tuakau and Waiuku. Over the years the boroughs were largely opposed to any suggestion of amalgamation, although during the 1970s and 1980s the four authorities co-operated over several unsuccessful attempts to form a Franklin region distinct from the Auckland region.

The first great reform

In 1989, by central government initiative, local and regional government throughout New Zealand was restructured. Under the Local Government (Auckland Region) Reorganisation Order 1989, Franklin District was formed by the amalgamation of Franklin County and Pukekohe, Waiuku and Tuakau boroughs. The new district lost Drury and Karaka to Papakura District in the north, but gained the northern part of the former Raglan County to the south.

Most remaining special purpose local authorities in the area were dissolved at the same time. (These included the Mercer Reserve Board, Onewhero Recreation Reserve Board, Franklin-Manukau Pest Destruction Board, and South Auckland District Noxious Plants Authority.)

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