The Government has given councils across the country a three-month deadline to propose major changes to the country’s local government structure, warning it will step in if they fail to act.
RMA Reform and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop said the current system—made up of 78 councils—was overly complex, inefficient and difficult for communities to navigate. He said duplication, inconsistent decision-making and rising costs were undermining the effectiveness of local governance.
Under a new “Head Start” pathway, councils are being invited to work together and submit proposals to reorganise their structures, with a focus on forming larger unitary authorities that combine regional and local functions. The aim is to streamline services, improve accountability and support the rollout of a new national planning system expected to become law this year.
Local Government Minister Simon Watts said proposals must demonstrate clear benefits, including improved efficiency, reduced duplication and strong community representation. Plans will also be assessed on deliverability and their ability to support infrastructure development and planning reforms.
More than 1,100 submissions were received during earlier consultation, with feedback showing broad support for change but a desire for flexibility at a regional level, according to a state press release.
Cabinet will decide later this year which proposals progress to detailed design, with final decisions expected in 2027 and implementation targeted before the 2028 local elections.
The Government has made clear that councils must take the lead or risk losing control of the process.
“Our message to councils is simple: lead your own reform, or we will do it for you,” Bishop said.
Wasn’t it “government” giving councils a deadline to introduce Co- Governance/Three Waters and all things apartheid not that long ago Bishop.
Doing exactly this in the UK. Devolution of councils..less public involvement and electing. “Local water done well” or “3 Waters” same same.
Would be a lot easier for the government to have control over water (chemicals, fluoride) when they have less local voices involved.
This is what A.I says about this, the end goal of this reform:
How Water and Governance Are Linked
The proposed abolition of elected regional councillors and their replacement with Combined Territories Boards (CTBs) of mayors is designed to streamline decision-making for regional issues like water. A single board of mayors can more easily agree on and implement a unified water strategy than a complex web of independent councils. The subsequent regional reorganisation plans will then assess if full council mergers are the best way to deliver on these water service goals.
Great cant happen quick enough councils have lost focus on core business.
They don’t maintain their trees or clean their gutters in my area and this causes huge flooding issues.
Then they have the audacity to say im in a flood zone or blame climate when its because their lack of basic maintenance.
And their wastage is huge they act like the mafia when challenged.
Councils don’t need to cut waste and prefer wasting as much as possible. Their senior management say they can always increase rates as much as they like so they will never go broke. But a commercial business needs to cut waste to avoid going broke.
Well news flash they can/will default and your property is the collateral.
Im guessing the money is loaned from CCP.
I really don’t rate Chris Bishop at all. It seems he knows very little about anything he is involved in. Relies heavily on staffers to advise him which is completely the wrong path.