Simplifying local government
UPDATE 10 AUGUST 2026
The following Head Start Proposal and Joint Position Statement were submitted to MCERT (formally DIA) for consideration on Sunday 9 August 2026. This proposal is for a region-wide unitary authority, and is supported by South Wairarapa District Council, Hutt City Council, Porirua City Council and Wellington City Council.
Region-wide Unitary Authority Head Start Proposal
Head Start Cover Letter and Joint Position Statement
There is a second proposal for a Wairarapa unitary authority supported by Carterton District Council and Masterton District Council which has been submitted separately to this proposal. You can find more information about this on this their websites.
Decisions by central government will be determined sometime in September. We will continue to keep the community informed about the outcome of this work.
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UPDATE 5 AUGUST 2026
South Wairarapa District elected members have voted (6-4) to submit a proposal for a Wellington-Wairarapa Unitary Authority to the Government as part of their Head Start pathway. More details on the proposal and next steps will be shared soon.
Find the meeting agenda, decision report and supporting documentation here: Council – 5 August 2026
Watch the meeting recording here: Council Extraordinary Meeting – 5 August 2026
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The Government’s Simplifying Local Government proposal aims to make the system simpler, more efficient, and more affordable for communities.
At present, local government has three models:
- Territorial authorities (i.e. district and city councils), which are responsible for local services and day-to-day infrastructure such as local roads and footpaths; libraries, parks and community facilities; three water services; and local planning.
- Regional councils, which focus on environmental management, regulation and regional-level issues such as managing rivers, coasts, and natural resources; environmental regulation (air, water, land use); and regional public transport.
- Unitary councils, which deliver all the responsibilities of both territorial authorities and regional councils.
The Government considers this structure (in particular the areas where both TAs and regional councils exist together) to be complex, costly and sometimes unclear for communities. At the same time, wider reform, including changes to resource management regulation, water services and response to climate adaptation, are expected to significantly change how councils operate in future.
In response, the Government is proposing a more streamlined model, with clearer roles and a stronger focus on core services and infrastructure. The Government has also indicated that from 2028, there will be no elections to regional councils.
What’s proposed?
A key part of the reform is a move to potential amalgamation of councils to form unitary authorities in all areas.
In simple terms, this would bring together under one structure the services currently delivered by territorial authorities (such as roads, libraries and community facilities) and regional councils (such as environmental management and transport planning).
Across New Zealand, councils are now being asked to consider how this could work in their regions, and how a combined model would improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and deliver better value for communities. The current policy does not pre-suppose that each regional council area will have only one unitary council.
To support this transition, the Government has proposed the “Head Start” and “Backstop” pathways for councils to put forward proposals for how they should be organised in future.
The Head Start pathway
On 5 May, the Government announced a three‑month process known as Head Start. This provides a voluntary pathway for councils that are ready to develop and put forward reorganisation proposals, with the aim of establishing unitary councils across a region.
Under this approach:
- councils can work together to develop and submit a proposed structure that reflects their communities;
- proposals must be submitted by 9 August 2026;
- proposals must then be approved by central government criteria before they can proceed.
These criteria include whether proposals are practical and achievable, whether they simplify systems and reduce duplication, whether they support improved services and infrastructure, and whether they provide effective representation for communities.
What this could mean for South Wairarapa
In Wairarapa, there are currently three district councils, and the region is also part of Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Through the Head Start process, councils are considering options for how local government could be organised in the future. These include:
- A Wairarapa-based unitary council, or
- A wider Wellington model, with local arrangements to manage Wairarapa-specific issues.
Each option would have different implications for how decisions are made, how services are delivered and how communities are represented.
These are complex issues and no decisions have been made at this stage.
If councils don’t use the Head Start pathway
Councils that do not take part in the Head Start process will continue operating under current arrangements in the short term.
However, the Government has signalled that a ‘Backstop’ process will follow, where Central Government will determine new council structures and existing councils may be merged into unitary authorities.
This means that reform will still proceed nationally, even if councils do not submit proposals themselves.
What happens next?
South Wairarapa District Council is:
- Working with other Wairarapa councils as well as councils in the wider Wellington region to explore options;
- Assessing which approaches best support delivery that protects local community voice and is affordable;
- Continuing to engage with residents as proposals develop.
Community input will be an important part of this process, particularly when considering how local representation and decision-making should work in the future.
Supporting documents
Community meeting presentation
In early June, Mayor Fran Wilde hosted three community meetings to outline the Head Start proposal and the options for moving forward.
Wairarapa report: Morrison Low
This report was commissioned by the three Wairarapa Council to provide an assessment of the potential cost of a Wairarapa Unitary Council. It is not a decision report in any way and is simply an input into the process the Wairarapa Councils are currently undertaking. Also it should be noted that the second section regarding representation models is based on the current legal framework and does not take account of the fact that the Government has stated it will consider “bespoke” models.
Wellington Region assessment presentation
This report was collated by the working group that is assisting the Councils of the wider Wellington Region in their assessment of the current situation and potential options. It is not a decision report but is an input into the Councils’ thinking.
Find out more about Simplifying Local Government