Simplifying Local Government

What is involved?

The goal of the programme is to make local government more efficient and avoid duplication. This could involve councils combining to become unitary authorities. 

A unitary authority is a single council responsible for the work of territorial authorities (i.e. city and district councils) and regional councils. This means one organisation looks after everything councils currently do, from regional responsibilities like environmental management, flood protection and flood protection, through to local services like roads, rubbish collection, and community facilities.

What is proposed?

Central government has invited councils across the motu to explore amalgamations through a fast-tracked 'Head Start' process. This process gives city and district councils until 9 August 2026 to explore and put forward options for how local government could work in their rohe (area). Regional councils cannot propose amalgamations under the Head Start process.

If councils do not put forward proposals, they would then wait to see what the 'Back Stop' process looks like. While more detail is expected, the Back Stop would be a compulsory reorganisation process that would amalgamate councils into unitary authorities.

What is Horizons' role?

Regional councils like Horizons cannot submit amalgamations under the Head Start process. However, they are encouraged to play a role in helping to come up with options.

Horizons facilitates the Mayoral Forum, the collective of the region's mayors and Horizons' chair. The forum has been in place for many years, providing an opportunity for the region's local government leaders to work together on issues. It gives the Horizons Region a platform to speak with one common voice on common issues, while also ensuring local differences are understood and respected. Simplifying Local Government has been the priority workstream for the Mayoral Forum for many months, with the forum meeting more regularly as councils consider submitting Head Start proposals.

District information packages

We have created a series of district information packages, designed to assist territorial authorities and communities in their discussions about local government reform. The packages break down our functions district-by-district, helping to explain what activities we deliver, how they are paid for, and important points to consider about each activity in the context of local government reform.

The packages clearly show the links between urban and rural environments, and the top and bottom of river catchments. These are important links to consider, given central government’s clear directive that effective delivery of regional functions such as transport and catchment management must be considered through the reform process.

These packages are an initiative which came out of the Mayoral Forum.

The Mayoral Forum also commissioned an independent report by Morrison Low Advisory to assess a single unitary model for the region. The purpose of this report was to develop a shared regional picture of what a Horizons Unitary Council could look like, test how it aligns with central government's five assessment criteria, and provide a common evidence base individual councils can use to inform their own considerations. This report is also available below.