The government has signalled that it wishes to reform local government.
In this article https://theconversation.com/a-major-overhaul-of-nzs-local-government-is-underway-will-it-really-fix-whats-broken-272424 it was reported:
The proposal would abolish regional councils and replace them with combined territorial boards made up of locally elected mayors. Voters would elect only one set of local representatives, rather than both territorial and regional councillors.
The new boards would take on the legal responsibilities of existing regional councils, while much of the regional bureaucracy would remain. Mayors on the boards would not have equal voting power; instead, votes would be weighted by population, with adjustments set by the Local Government Commission.
The proposal also allows – though not as a preferred option – for a Crown Commissioner to be appointed to a territorial boards. Depending on the circumstances, that commissioner could have no vote, a veto, or more than half of the weighted votes, to ensure national interests are taken into account.
The boards’ primary task would be to prepare a regional reorganisation plan within two years of establishment.
The Christchurch City Council made a presentation which is contained in this Council document Agenda of Policy and Planning Committee – Wednesday, 11 February 2026. The staff recommendation was accepted.
Submissions to the government proposals close on the 20th of February. We would like as many people to make submissions as possible. The next two weeks will give you some ideas for submissions.
The Council’s acting CE, Mary Richardson, has agreed to come and explain the government’s proposals and to take us through the CCC’s submission.
Here are her slides from the session
Watch it below
Craig Pauling, former chair of ECan and now Green Party Candidate for Banks Peninsula presented particularly from Regional Council perspective Facebook Event
Resources from Craig Pauling from his session
Make a submission here by 20 February
Green Party Submission Guide
remember this – a crucial issue is the underfunding of Local Government
So, see you at 5pm on Tuesday for a 5.30 start.
Peter adds:
1.New Zealand is the only developed country which does not have strong regional governance able to bring together decision-making at a regional level that is critical for the region.
2. There is ample research evidence suggesting that this gap is a major contributor to New Zealand’s poor productivity.
3.What is needed is a strong push for decentralisation so as to unlock the capability and potential within regions – continuing the present situation in which virtually everything of significance needs signoff in Wellington is seriously dysfunctional whether you are considering the economy, social cohesion, social justice…
it also worth considering who is the audience to whom submissions should be targeted. In formal terms it is obviously central government. it is already very clear central government will ignore anything which does not fit with its preferences. a better audience comprises those groups, entities, whatever whose interests are damaged by weak regional Governance. Much activity in New Zealand, including in business, is regionally based. It’s very dependent on the strength of regional governance. There is a useful parallel here with developments such as the anchor institutions approach which has seen cities like Preston in the UK turnaround their economic and social circumstances and which has led to the Scottish assembly promoting a bill on community wealth building. We need to be pushing those sorts of issues rather than trying to fine tune or defend the status quo.