Northland Regional Council has issued emails which it says show a report on local government reform was distorted by the councils who paid for it.
The McKinlay Report first recommended a single unitary authority for Northland, but after council input, allowed for two: one for Whangarei and one for Far North.
The second option is being heavily promoted by the mayors and councils of both districts.
The regional council asked for all correspondence about the report, under the Official Information Act.
In one email, report writer Peter McKinlay questioned the financial viability of a stand-alone Far North unitary council.
In another, he said central government would have problems dealing with two unitary authorities, and a reorganisation scheme was unlikely to be approved.
The regional council says the emails show the final report is skewed and not worthy of further attention.
