The Government’s proposal to "Simplify Local Government" represents a significant restructuring of New Zealand's local government system, primarily by eliminating regional councillors and replacing them with a Combined Territories Board (CTB) composed of mayors from city and district councils.
From a pro-democracy perspective, the proposal presents a mixed picture — with some elements that streamline governance, but several features that raise concerns about reduced direct representation, democratic accountability, and increased central government control. Below is an assessment focused on core democratic principles: representation, participation, checks & balances, subsidiarity (decision-making at the most local feasible level), and protection against excessive power concentration.
Positive Aspects for Local Democracy
- The proposal retains the directly elected mayors as the primary democratic foundation. Citizens would still directly elect their main local representatives.
- Could promote better regional collaboration — Mayors would work together on regional issues, leading to more aligned decision-making on infrastructure, planning, transport, and services.
- Provision for mandatory public consultation during the development of regional reorganisation plans.
- Existing community consultation obligations under the Local Government Act 2002 will continue during the transition.
Concerning Aspects for Democratic Principles
Power shifts upwards - toward mayors and central government, with reduced direct democratic oversight at the regional level:
- The removal of elected regional councillors abolishes an entire tier of elected representation dedicated to regional issues. Under the proposal, regional decisions would be made by a board of mayors who are elected primarily for territorial, not regional, mandates. This greatly reduces the number of directly accountable elected representatives and concentrates regional decision-making in the hands of a smaller group of people who were not primarily elected for those regional responsibilities.
- Mayors already have heavy workloads, and adding regional governance could strain capacity and dilute focus. Expecting them to simultaneously govern complex regional functions is unrealistic and risks poor decision-making or neglect of either local or regional priorities.
- There is a danger that mayors may prioritise local (often district-specific) issues over regional needs.
- Abolishing elected regional councillors but retaining the same permanent staff and organisational culture significantly reduces democratic oversight while leaving entrenched bureaucracy untouched. This creates a democratic deficit without addressing root inefficiencies.
- Raises serious concerns over governance of major strategic assets—such as Port Otago or stakes in ports like Tauranga.
- The Local Government Commission would adjust voting weights on Combined Territorial Boards to protect smaller and rural communities from being consistently outvoted by larger urban areas - the goal being to prevent big cities from dominating decisions. However, this managed form of representation moves away from “one person, one vote” policy and raises concerns about uncertainty, transparency, potential political influence, and inconsistent application between regions.
- Increased central government intervention powers. The Minister of Local Government gains the authority to approve (or require changes to) regional reorganisation plans.
- The short-term options include appointing Crown Commissioners to regional governance roles — with veto power or even majority voting control — explicitly to protect "national interests." This introduces a pathway for the Crown to override locally made decisions, thereby eroding local democracy.
Overall Democratic Assessment
While the proposals maintain the core territorial democratic layer and include safeguards such as consultation and representation adjustments, they do represent a significant shift toward centralisation and mayoral/executive dominance at the expense of a dedicated, directly elected regional layer — a change that reduces the overall number of options for democratic input and increases ministerial/Crown discretionary power.
Recommendation:
The government should reconsider its approach and put forward a proposal that bolsters accountability and strengthens democratic governance rather than undermines it.
However, if the government intends to proceed with the proposals in the Simplify Local Government discussion document, the following suggestions are recommended:
- piloting the model in select regions with opt-in provisions, followed by a nationwide review incorporating public feedback;
- transparent performance reporting for CTBs;
- mandatory binding referendums for any major structural changes affecting a region;
- recall provisions for underperforming mayors in their regional roles.
Have your say on ‘Simplifying Local Government’!
Submissions close 20 February 2026
Read the full draft proposal HERE and have your say HERE
References
DIA: Simplifying Local Government
Simplifying Local Government - A draft proposal
Media Release
Chris Bishop/Simon Watts: Simpler, more cost-effective local government
Media coverage
RNZ: Local government reforms: Need for local voices stressed
Commentary
Peter Williams criticises the Government's proposal to replace the regional councils with a panel of local mayors. "In the end, the government may find that the simplification it sought has created the opposite: uncertainty, confusion and a loss of trust in local democracy".
READ: Replacing Regional Councillors with Mayors Isn’t Reform
Michael Laws on The Platform:
CityWatch NZ: Regional Council Reforms Should Focus on Reducing Bureaucracy not Reducing Democracy