Simplifying Local Government

The Government has proposed to abolish regional councillors, replacing them with Combined Territorial Boards (CTBs) composed of Mayors.

The CTB will be required to work on Regional Reorganisation Plans to improve efficiency, strengthen collaboration across councils, and ensure decisions are made closer to communities.

They will have two years to submit re-organisation plans to the Minister for Local Government for approval.

One of the key reasons for this significant change in due to the planned replacement of the Resource Management Act (a core responsibility of regional councils).

The changes could bring significant shifts in roles and responsibilities.

The requirement to develop Regional Reorganisation Plans may also prompt discussion about combining services or even amalgamating councils, potentially reshaping how local government is structured in the future.

Rates capping / Simplifying Local Government Resources:

Waimakariri District Council's View:

On February 20 2026 Council made a submission on this proposal. Below are our introductory points as well as a link to the full submission document.

1. Key Points
1.1. The Waimakariri District Council (the Council) thanks the Government for the opportunity to provide a submission on the proposal for simplifying local government (the Proposal).


1.2. The Council supports the overall intent of the Proposal to modernise the local government sector and welcomes the opportunity to develop a regional solution informed by local knowledge and existing regional priorities.


1.3. However, we note that the scale and pace of the Proposal is extremely ambitious and carries a risk of unintended consequences, particularly given the number of concurrent reforms affecting the sector - most notably the resource management reform programme.


1.4. The Council considers that to best utilise the opportunity available through this structural review, a concurrent review of the financial instruments available to the sector should be undertaken. We also note that these reforms have the potential to have a significant impact on the workload for elected members, and on local Government funding.


1.5. The Council and the Waimakariri community strongly believe that local people are the best placed to develop and deliver solutions for their communities. We are concerned that this proposal may move key decisions away from those that understand the needs of the community and the environment.

Full submission on Simplifying Local Government

Our submission talks in further detail about our Council's concerns with this proposal and the likely results of such a policy or proposal on Waimakariri.

Click here

Next steps

Consultation closed on 20 February.

Last reviewed date: 23 Feb 2026