The Wellington region’s mayors have met to discuss the future structure of its local government, with no decisions being reached.
Photo: LDR
This week’s bombshell government directive to local government was discussed by the Wellington region’s eight mayors in a closed-door meeting on Friday morning, but “no final decisions were made.”
On Tuesday, RMA Reform and Infrastructure Minister, Chris Bishop and Local Government Minister Simon Watts said the government was giving councils a three-month window to put forward proposals to simplify and strengthen local government in their regions.
The region’s Mayoral Forum issued a statement on Friday after discussing the announcement at Silverstream, with chairperson, Wellington Mayor Andrew Little, saying discussions were “frank and constructive”.
“No final decisions were made,” he said.
“We’ve been working since November to respond to the central government’s ‘Simplifying Local Government’ policy.
“The new three-month deadline has complicated that work, but the bottom line remains that local people should decide the future of their local governments.”
In response to a question from Local Democracy Reporting about the tight time frame, Minister Watts said he was confident councils could meet the deadline.
“This is a voluntary process for councils that have indicated that they are ready and keen to get underway now, to get on with the job,” he said.
“The three-month window is for councils to submit outline proposals – if accepted into the Head Start pathway, officials will work with councils to further develop proposals ahead of final decisions in 2027.
“This timeline allows proposals to be developed, assessed, agreed, and implemented ahead of the 2028 local elections.”
Mayoral Forum deputy-chairperson, South Wairarapa Mayor Dame Fran Wilde, said the appropriate next step was for forum members to report back to their respective councils.
“That’s the right process to ensure all councillors get to fully participate in leading the conversations we’ll keep having as local communities,” Wilde said.
Bishop made it clear in the Tuesday announcement that the government expected councils to move fast.
“If councils don’t step up and put forward credible proposals, the government will step in and make those decisions,” he said.
“Our message to councils is simple: lead your own reform, or we will do it for you. Either way, change is coming.”
Little said earlier this week that the Friday Forum was an ordinary scheduled meeting.
“At this stage, it is too early to provide a detailed assessment of the central government’s proposals,” he said at the time.
“New Zealand’s local government system is too complex, too costly, and too hard to navigate,” Bishop said on Tuesday.
“We currently have 78 city and district, regional, and unitary councils across the country – a high number for a country of our size.”
The Mayoral Forum, which had existed for many years, comprised the mayors of Wellington City, Hutt City, Upper Hutt City, Porirua City, Kāpiti, South Wairarapa, Carterton and Masterton, and the chairperson of Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Horowhenua District enjoyed observer status.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air