Time to get Canterbury’s future right
Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) Chair Dr Deon Swiggs says the Government's decision to defer Head Start reorganisation decisions until after the general election recognises the complexity and importance of regional functions.
In a letter to mayors and chief executives, Ministers Simon Watts and Chris Bishop confirmed Cabinet will not make decisions on individual Head Start proposals at this time.
The letter also confirmed that regional councillors will not be elected at the 2028 local elections, and that the backstop process for regional reorganisation will start after those elections.
Government defers Head Start reorganisation decisions
Chair Swiggs says councils across the country have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and put nearly a year of work into the rapid review and Head Start process at the Government’s direction.
"Councils did what was asked of them, in good faith and at ratepayers' cost. The Government has now recognised the hard design questions, including representation and how regional functions are transferred and delivered, are complex, and need time to get right.
These are the questions that matter most, and regional councils are ready to help answer them," he said.
Getting the right model for Canterbury’s regional functions
Chair Swiggs says the Council's message to Government is simple: use this time to settle the right scale and governance for Canterbury's regional functions.
"Let’s ensure the services Canterbury relies on come out stronger, more efficient and more resilient.
"The risk of rushing has always been that functions like flood protection and freshwater management end up organised around political boundaries rather than the natural environment. Our rivers, catchments, transport networks, natural hazards and ecosystems don't stop at council boundaries. Our thinking about how we manage them shouldn't either."
Protecting regional capability and local accountability
Chair Swiggs says Environment Canterbury supports reform that delivers better services and better value for Cantabrians.
"Successful regional functions depend on specialist capability, connected systems and decades of knowledge. Wherever those responsibilities end up, we need to keep what works and improve what can work better."
"We must also protect our relationship with Ngāi Tahu and Papatipu Rūnanga, honour Treaty settlements and existing obligations, and keep democratic accountability and a strong local voice. Through any transition, Canterbury communities can't lose the essential services and capability they rely on."
Regional council reform needs to be carefully sequenced
Chair Swiggs says reform needs to be sequenced so regional capability isn't weakened while a new system is being built.
"We want reform that works. The test isn't how quickly structures can change. The test is whether our communities, economy and environment are better served afterwards."
"Regional councils hold the operational knowledge on how these functions are actually delivered. The Government should use this time to work directly with us on a model that will work for decades to come.
“We’ll continue to work collaboratively with Canterbury’s City and District councils. The best solution will come from bringing our collective knowledge and experience to the table and designing what works best for the region as a whole," Chair Swiggs said.
Environment Canterbury’s focus during reform
In the meantime, Environment Canterbury's focus stays on implementing the new resource management system, including working with Canterbury councils and mana whenua on a high-quality regional spatial plan. The Government has said that plan will be an important input into any future reorganisation.
Environment Canterbury will continue to offer its operational knowledge, data and technical expertise to Ministers, MCERT officials and Canterbury councils. It will also continue to advocate for regional functions to be delivered at the scale that achieves the best outcomes.