Simpler, more cost-effective local government

The Government says new proposals for regional councils will fundamentally simplify how cities and regions are planned and make it far easier to build the future New Zealanders deserve.

They say the reforms would deliver the most significant changes to local government since 1989 and strip out duplication in the system, standardise processes, and drive down complexity and compliance costs.

Proposal 1 - Abolishing Regional Councillors

This would replace elected regional councillors with new Combined Territories Boards made up of mayors from the region’s city and district councils.

Proposal 2 – Locally-led Regional Reorganisation

This would see the new Combined Territories Boards (CTB) lead regional reorganisation plans.