Simplifying Local Government consultation
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, 539KB).
This consultation closed Friday 20 February 2026.
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 was proposed?
The Government proposed 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 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 would simplify governance by consolidating decision making with mayors. This would reduce duplication and ensure regional decision making is more aligned across councils. It would also ensure 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?”
Proposal document
Simplifying Local Government - A draft proposal (PDF, 539KB)
A copy of the proposal document in te Reo Māori is available here:
Te Whakamāmā i te Kāwanatanga ā-Rohe He kaupapa marohi hukihuki (PDF, 1MB)
Further information
See the media release for Simpler, more cost-effective local government (Beehive website)
Frequently asked questions
Between 25 November 2025 and 20 February 2026, the Government consulted on its proposal to simplify local government. The proposal included forming a Combined Territories Board comprised of mayors who would develop a Regional Reorganisation Plan to outline how councils could improve efficiency through shared services, collaboration, or potential council mergers into large unitary authorities.
How many submissions did you receive?
We received 1,153 submissions, including 239 from organisations. These included:
- 68 from councils, 20 from industry bodies,
- 69 from interest groups and NGOS,
- 13 from local government stakeholders including LGNZ, Taituarā and various community boards),
- 60 submissions from Māori organisations and entities (including the Iwi Chairs Forum, PSGEs and land trusts),
- 3 submissions from mayoral forums, and
- 6 submissions from ratepayer and residents’ associations.
The remaining 914 submissions came from individuals representing a wide range of perspectives, including former elected representatives, current council staff, academics, legal experts and the wider public.
What feedback did you receive from submissions?
Overall, submitters broadly supported the need for change but did not generally support the Simplifying Local Government proposal. Opposition to the proposal centred on the establishment of a CTB and the removal of regional councillors before the end of their term. Other issues raised in submissions included:
- preserving and supporting local democracy
- retention of regional service delivery, particularly environmental protections
- mayoral workloads and adopting a regional perspective
- impact of other government reforms
- funding and process concerns
- Treaty issues and the role of Māori in local government.
What feedback was received from councils?
Overall, many councils supported the reorganisation as a catalyst for system reset, efficiency, and reduced duplication. Many councils submitted that they would prefer different approaches giving greater flexibility in locally led reforms.
Councils also supported retaining regional councillors until the 2028 local elections to support the sector by providing capacity during a period of substantial change, institutional knowledge to support transition, and more democratic legitimacy.
Councils were supportive of the regional reorganisation plans, but only if they are well designed. They highlighted, if implemented poorly, they could weaken local voices and service delivery. They also said the plans need enough funding, should reflect regional differences, be led by communities and focus on doing things more efficiently.
What feedback was received on the role of Crown commissioners?
Submitters generally preferred elected representatives to be responsible for regional reorganisation planning. However, there was some support for non-voting Crown observers to ensure better alignment with Government and councils.
What feedback was received from Māori submitters?
Themes from iwi and Māori groups included:
- broad support for reform and collaboration in principle, but opposition to a centralised design that weakens Treaty based, democratic, and environmental governance
- strong expectation that Treaty settlements are binding and must be foundational to reform, not simply carried over administratively
- repeated calls for a “no regression / same or better effect” standard, including protection of settlement governance machinery
- clear concern about the removal of equal Māori representation at governance level (not advisory roles), with advisory or consultative mechanisms seen as insufficient
- ongoing questions around the capacity and capability of mayors to take on additional regional and settlement related governance responsibilities
- regional reorganisation plans identified as the highest risk point for settlement dilution
- strong opposition to Crown Commissioner veto or majority vote
- the overall approach being widely seen as under-developed, lacking a Treaty based and holistic perspective, and carrying constitutional and settlement risk, particularly when considered alongside RMA, water, and planning reforms.
What happens to submissions?
Submissions will be published in full (subject to privacy redactions) on the Department’s website. Submissions will also be used to inform Ministers’ decisions about the backstop proc