Simplifying Local Government

On 5 May 2026, the Government announced the Head Start for Simplifying Local Government—a streamlined, voluntary pathway for councils willing and able to reorganise before the wider reform of local government from 2028.

What feedback was received?
What is being proposed instead?
Why this change?
Policy document
Questions and answers
Further information
Draft proposal (February 2026)

What feedback was received?

In November 2025, the Government proposed changes to simplify local government: replacing regional councillors with a region’s mayors, and requiring these mayors to develop plans for the more effective and efficient delivery of council services across a region.

Consultation on this proposal resulted in more than 1,150 submissions, including around 70 from councils and local government sector bodies, and 60 from iwi/Māori organisations. Submitters generally agreed with the need for reform but raised issues with the specific proposal.

There was more support for regional reorganisation plans than combined territories boards (CTBs). Many submitters had concerns about council capacity to progress these reforms at the same time as other government initiatives. Some suggested changes to the timing, membership, or remit of CTBs.

Many submitters supported keeping regional councillors in place until the 2028 local elections—as a practical measure to support mayors and maintain democratic legitimacy. Councils told us they wanted more flexibility for locally led reform, with some mayors keen to reorganise faster.

Submissions will be published in full (subject to privacy redactions) here at a future date.

What is being proposed instead?

The Government has listened to feedback and refined its approach to Simplifying Local Government. Cabinet has decided to:

introduce a streamlined, voluntary Head Start pathway for councils willing and able to reorganise quickly, with outline proposals for new unitary authorities due by August, and final policy decisions on detailed proposals early next year; and
commence wider reform of local government after the 2028 local elections, with regional councillors replaced by some form of interim body (for example, a board of mayors, Crown commissioners, or a hybrid model) and final policy decisions on the ‘backstop’ next year.

Why this change?

This staged approach enables swift reorganisation in areas where there is momentum for change. It also responds to the strong case made through submissions for adjustments to support the transition to the new resource management regime.

Combined, the Head Start and backstop provide clarity and certainty for councils and communities, while ensuring governance and leadership arrangements are fit for purpose during the implementation of the new planning system.

Policy document

More information on the Head Start pathway—including entry requirements and assessment criteria for Head Start outline proposals—is available in the policy document below.

Head Start pathway: Simplifying Local Government (PDF, 818KB)

Questions and answers

Who can submit a Head Start proposal?

Proposals can be submitted by groupings of two or more territorial authorities. Unitary authorities other than Auckland Council may also submit as part of a grouping, but regional councils may not.
To ensure the right scale and focus, these groupings must represent a majority of either: the directly affected territorial authorities, or the population across directly affected districts.

What types of reorganisation can be proposed?

The Head Start pathway is focused primarily on structural reform. It allows councils to propose new unitary authorities that combine regional and territorial council functions, to simplify governance and reduce duplication.

Proposals for new unitary authorities do not need to cover an entire region. They may also involve neighbouring territorial authorities from different regions. However, all proposals will be assessed by how they maintain effective catchment management and support stronger regional planning.

When are Head Start proposals due?

Councils have until 11.59 pm on Sunday 9 August 2026 to submit outline proposals.

Will communities be consulted on Head Start proposals?

Given the short window for submitting, councils will be limited in how they consult on initial outline proposals. We are looking for mayors and councils to provide local leadership. Councils will have the opportunity to consult with communities before final decisions are made by Cabinet in May 2027.

How will Head Start proposals be assessed?

Officials will assess outline proposals against clear criteria, including deliverability by the 2028 local elections, support for the new planning system, simplified governance, economies of scale, and fair and effective local representation.

Who decides which proposals enter the Head Start pathway?

Cabinet will consider Head Start outline proposals in September, with the option to agree in principle those that meet the entry requirements and score well against the assessment criteria.

How will successful Head Start proposals be implemented?

Head Start proposals would be implemented after detailed design and the policy decisions required to support enabling legislation in 2027. We aim to integrate legislation for the reorganisation of all other regions—the backstop—with any bespoke legislation flowing from Head Start proposals.

Further information

(updated 7 May 2026)

Media release: Councils invited to fast-track local reform | Beehive.govt.nz (5 May 2026)

Further background information relating to the Government’s policy proposals will be added shortly and we will provide links here.

If you need any help accessing the documents please email SimplifyingLocalGovernment@dia.govt.nz

Draft proposal

On 25 November 2025, the Government announced the consultation on its proposal to simplify local government. You can read more detail in the proposal document here: Simplifying Local Government - A draft proposal (PDF, 547KB).

This consultation CLOSED Friday 20 February 2026.

How is local government currently structured?
What is being proposed?
Why this change?
Proposal document

How is local government currently structured?

Most places in New Zealand have two separate councils – a regional council, and a city or district council (sometimes called ‘territorial authorities’). Each have a separate set of elected councillors who look after separate (but often similar) things.

There are 11 regional councils that govern services such as environmental management, regional transport planning, and civil defence. There are 67 city or district councils that govern services such as roads, water infrastructure, rubbish collection, libraries, parks, and land use planning. There are 6 ‘unitary authorities’ that combine the two roles.

What is being proposed?

The Government is proposing to simplify local government in two steps:

Step 1: Instead of electing separate regional councillors, the mayors you already vote for will collectively form a Combined Territories Board (CTB). The CTB will lead regional issues and govern the regional council, taking over all of the current regional council’s roles and obligations. We also want to know what you think about the alternative options of appointing one or more Crown Commissioners (appointed by the Government) to lead or join the board.
Step 2: The CTB will develop a plan for how the councils in your region can work together more effectively and efficiently (called a Regional Reorganisation Plan). The plan will be developed in consultation with you, examined independently, and be approved by the Minister of Local Government.

Why this change?

Local democracy is important, but many people don’t vote in local elections or understand the difference between regional councils and city or district councils.

The current system has built-in duplication (two sets of councillors). CTBs simplify governance by consolidating decision making with mayors. This reduces duplication and ensures regional decision making is more aligned across councils. It also ensures there is clear accountability to the public by the CTB for delivery of regional services. If Crown Commissioners are appointed, they would have the same responsibilities as regional councillors currently have.

Regional reorganisation plans provide a structured, transparent platform to improve efficiency and ensure services are delivered in a way that fits the region’s needs. They will be designed to answer the question: “What is the best way the councils in my region can work together to deliver effective and efficient services and functions in this region?”