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.

• Biggest overhaul of NZ local government in over 30 years.
• Regional councils will be abolished and replaced with new governing bodies.

Whanganui iwi have successfully convinced the Whanganui District Council to adopt a proposal to create of a platform for joint initiatives that detail how the council is to partner with the post-settlement governance entity proposed by the Whanganui Land Settlement Negotiations Trust (WLSNT).

The Whanganui Lands Negotiation Settlement Trust (WLSNT) and the Crown negotiator are seeking agreement from the Whanganui District Council to support the Trust's aspiration to establish a partnership framework with the Council, aiming to include this proposal in their Treaty settlement.

The juggernaut advancing major constitutional changes to the way our country is governed continues to roll on, much of it flying under the radar.

The Government’s radical restructuring agenda includes a review of local government, the purpose of which is “to identify how our system of local democracy and governance needs to evolve over the next 30 years, to improve the wellbeing of New Zealand communities and the environment, and actively embody Te Tiriti partnership”.

As part of the Government’s wide-reaching reform agenda, (think education and health sectors, three waters, the conservation estate, the RMA replacement), a two-year ministerial review into the future for Local Government was launched in April 2021. The purpose of the review is “to identify how our system of local democracy and governance needs to evolve over the next 30 years, to improve the wellbeing of New Zealand communities and the environment, and actively embody Te Tiriti partnership”.

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), an organisation that purportedly represents the interests of local authorities (and by extension local communities), appears to have changed its prime allegiance from local authorities to central government.

The Government’s radical plan to impose co-governance over all aspects of the New Zealand government came a step closer with the release of the Review into the Future for Local Government draft report. Read the report here.

The Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu) Bill, creating permanent Ngāi Tahu representation on Environment Canterbury (ECAN), undergoes its third reading this week. This legislation represents a significant shift away from two key principles of democracy: equal suffrage and accountability at the ballot box.

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta wants to make it mandatory for councils to consider Māori wards.

“Under the proposed changes, when councils undertake their regular Representation Review every six years, the first step must be a decision about whether to establish Māori wards or constituencies. Currently there is no obligation to consider Māori wards at all”, said Ms Mahuta.