Despite their bid to leave, Rodney and Waiheke residents will remain part of Auckland's 'super city'.
In a press release on Thursday, the Local Government Commission announced the "status quo' was its preferred option for local government reorganisation in Auckland.
"This decision has been taken only after careful consideration of the applications before it, and examination and analysis of the evidence tested against the criteria set out in the Local Government Act," said Auckland reorganisation lead commissioner Geoff Dangerfield.
Rodney locals, under the Northern Action Group (NAG) banner, applied to break away from the rest of the city in 2013. It called for a 'North Rodney Unitary Council' to take over the top half of the existing Rodney Local Board area - from Puhoi northwards.
At the time, LGC said that wouldn't be in Auckland's best interests and turned the group down.
In 2015, the High Court overturned that ruling and only a few months' later, Waiheke Island residents put in their own application to split, under the 'Our Waiheke' banner.
"We have found that neither a North Rodney Unitary Authority nor a Waiheke Unitary Authority, combining the responsibilities of district and regional councils for their respective proposed areas, meet the statutory legislative tests," said Mr Dangerfield.
While the LGC say it understands that some will find the ruling disappointing, it believes its decision will be best for both communities. About 55,000 people live in Rodney and fewer than 9000 on Waiheke.
"We recognise that people do feel strongly about local government in their respective districts and some consider there to be significant shortcomings.
"However, the commission does not consider structural change, as set out in the applications, will best promote the purpose of local government for the respective communities."
The LGC says further applications to leave the suepr city can be made, but the "commission has some discretion in deciding whether to assess them".
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