Simplifying Local Government

Help shape the future of your local government

This is not a binding poll. Community feedback will help inform Council proposals, but final decisions sit with Central Government.

Change is coming to how local government works.

The Government is looking at changes to how local government works in New Zealand, with the aim of making it simpler, more efficient and easier for people to understand.

This could affect how local decisions are made, how services are delivered, and how local communities are represented, and will significantly reduce the number of councils in New Zealand.

Under the proposed changes, regional councils won’t exist after 2028, and all district councils would eventually become unitary authorities - one council doing the work currently done by both district and regional councils.

District councils generally deliver local services such as roads, rubbish collection, parks, libraries, water services and local planning, while regional councils focus on environmental management and public transport.

To carry out these functions effectively, it is likely that some councils will need to join together.

Our council has agreed to be part of the Government’s Head Start pathway so that we can have a say in developing our future, instead of having it done to us later.

Under this pathway, district councils can work together to develop outline proposals for new unitary authorities. These proposals can cover all or part of a region and may include the creation of one, or a small number of, new unitary authorities.

Councils only have until 9 August 2026 to submit an outline proposal.

Since the Government’s announcement on 5 May, we've been talking with other councils across the region, and it’s important we have your views as part of these conversations, while we work through what comes next.

Feedback closes Sunday 12 July 2026

This is your opportunity to get involved and have an early say on what is most important to you. The survey should take less than 5 minutes.