Simplifying Local Government
What has the Government announced?
The Government has announced it wants fewer local authorities across New Zealand and is asking local and regional councils to consider the amalgamation of District Councils and Regional Councils into unitary authorities
These unitary authorities would combine the functions of local councils with those from regional councils, such as Northland Regional Council. The government has stated its preference for one unitary authority per region, however there are allowances for regions that are large or have more complex issues.
The Government is giving councils a three-month window to propose the new arrangements themselves under the "Head Start" pathway, and has stated if councils cannot do this, then the Government itself will propose amalgamations under a "backstop" approach.
Whether councils use the Head Start pathway or the Back Stop process, approval will be required from Government before any work commences on the amalgamation of District and Regional Councils.
Head Start
The voluntary Head Start pathway provides councils with an early opportunity to propose their own arrangements for regional reorganisation into unitary authorities. There are a few conditions attached: two or more councils are required to work together on the proposal, and the proposal can incorporate other councils, whether they agree with the proposal or not.
Back Stop
For regions that are not part of the Head Start pathway, district and city councils will continue through to the 2028 elections. The Back stop process involves the Government amalgamating existing councils into unitary authorities after the 2028 Local Elections. This process will be developed by the Government in 2027.
FAQ
A unitary authority is a single council that combines the responsibilities of regional, and city or district councils.
Current Regional Council governance arrangements will remain in place until October 2028. Future changes will not include regional councillors and may result in new local government structures such as unitary authorities.
The Government confirmed that key regional council functions, including flood protection, environmental management, biosecurity and public transport, will remain with local government.
Far North District Council hasn’t made any decisions. We’re asking for your views to understand your thoughts on the Government’s proposal, what matters most to you about local representation and decision-making, and what your top priority would be if local government structures change.
We’d really like to get a sense of how people across the district are feeling about this, so we can represent our community well in any future conversations about simplifying local government.
Whichever pathway is chosen, the Government will have the final say. The legislation to support these changes is proposed to be introduced by Government in 2027, and implementation would begin in 2028 in the leadup to the next local elections.
It's hard to say based on limited information available, but possibilities could include:
- Regional grouping into one unitary authority
- Multiple unitary authorities for large/complex regions
- Councils retaining their boundaries, but incorporating regional functions or sharing services.
Have your say
You can fill in the survey here.
Feedback closes Sunday 31 May.
Want more info?
Check out the Government's proposal here.
We're at the very start of this process and there are a lot of questions still to be answered, but we want to ensure our community has the opportunity to provide their thoughts from the earliest stages.
As we begin discussions with our neighbours and the Government, we need to know what matters most to you and what must be protected for the future of our community.