What is the Head Start pathway?
The Head Start pathway is a streamlined process for councils that are ready to develop and progress reorganisation proposals, with the aim of creating unitary authorities within a region. For councils that are not progressing through the Head Start pathway, a compulsory Backstop process will occur after the 2028 local elections. At the 2028 local elections, regional councillors will be replaced with an interim body (for example, a board of mayors, Crown commissioners, or a combination of both). The precise model will be developed by the Government next year.
The Government has said it will implement bespoke legislation, like in Auckland, for the Head Start programme, giving more options for councils. The Backstop process will be more standardised with less choice and flexibility in how change is enacted.
Who can submit an outline proposal?
Any two or more territorial and/or unitary authorities including cross-boundary groupings, may submit if they represent a majority of either the:
- directly affected territorial authorities, or
- population across directly affected areas.
Proposals cannot be submitted by minority groupings, individual territorial authorities or unitary authorities, regional councils, individuals or other organisations.
What is a unitary authority?
A unitary authority is a single council that combines the roles of a city, district and regional council in one organisation.
In New Zealand, examples include Auckland Council, Gisborne District Council, Tasman District Council, Nelson City Council and Marlborough District Council.
How will the Government assess outline proposals?
Five criteria will be used to assess the proposals:
- Deliverability: Proposals are realistic and demonstrate how new arrangements can be implemented in a timely manner.
- Supports the new planning system: Shows clear support for implementing the new planning system – including progress on spatial and natural environment plan development – and avoids or minimises disruption to that work.
- Simplifies local governance: Proposes more efficient regional governance arrangements, consolidating decision-making and improving alignment between a region’s councils.
- Economies of scale: Supports regional strategic planning and effective delivery of key regional functions (such as transport and catchment management), and demonstrates responsible and affordable asset management, infrastructure investment, and service delivery.
- Maintains local voice: Demonstrates fair and effective representation for communities of interest and how decisions will be made at the local level, balancing urban and rural interests.
What are some examples of what future local authorities could look like in the future?
Please note the three possible models outlined below are examples only and not an exhaustive list.
One council covering the whole Bay of Plenty region (including both regional and district/city functions).
What it could look like:
- Tauranga City Council joins with Western Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki and Kawerau councils, and takes on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council functions
- A larger Bay of Plenty-wide unitary authority is created
- Community boards and/or separate wards within the region are established, with elected representatives from each ward
What this could mean:
- Greater scale and shared resources across the wider region, and less duplication
- More integrated planning for growth, infrastructure, and transport
- Potential efficiencies from a larger organisation
Things to consider:
- How to maintain a strong local voice for people who live in Tauranga City along with the other local communities in a way that is fairly represented
- How decision-making would reflect different communities across a larger region
One council covering the whole Bay of Plenty region (including both regional and district/city functions) with three equally sized local boards
What it could look like:
- Tauranga City Council joins with Western Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki and Kawerau councils
- A large Bay of Plenty-wide unitary authority is created, with a governing body of Mayors and a Chair
- Three local boards, each with Councillors and a Mayor, covering Western Bay of Plenty, Eastern Bay of Plenty and Rotorua
What this could mean:
- Greater scale and shared resources across the wider region
- More integrated planning for growth, infrastructure, and transport
- Local representation kept at a sub-regional level - people still get to vote for a local Mayor and Councillor
Things to consider
- Novel and therefore untested
- How to ensure equal representation of the communities of interest
What it could look like:
- Tauranga City Council joins with Western Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki and Kawerau councils
- Three separate local authorities, each with their own elected member covering regional and local council duties
- A Council Controlled Organisation or Joint Committee established to oversee implementation and deliver shared services across all three unitary councils
What this could mean:
- Independence and local voices are retained
- Communities of interest are reflected
- Potential for regional functions to be split
- Sharing of services to deliver efficiencies and scale
Things to consider:
- Less economy of scale efficiency gains than the other two options above
- Important to understand who is responsible for what, and how it is delivered
- How it can align with the new planning system
- Whether splitting regional council functions especially catchment management makes sense
What happens next
We’ll continue working closely with neighbouring councils and taking on board community feedback before deciding whether to submit a proposal by 9 August, and if so, what that proposal should include. That decision will be made at a Council meeting before the Government’s deadline.