Concern as end of regional councils tipped in local government reforms

Tuesday, 25 November 2025

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The Government is set to announce local government reforms that could spell the death of regional councils, it is understood.

Multiple well-placed sources have confirmed reforms being announced on Tuesday will mean the dissolving of regional councils.

It is understood the first steps could be within this current three-year council term with talk of a panel of regional mayors taking over the running of regional councils. This would be the first steps towards removing the councils all together, it is understood.

Sources have expressed concern about what would become of the environmental protection aspect of regional councils.

On Sunday Prime Minister Christopher Luxon talked of a “very serious shake-up coming” for local government.

Green local government spokesperson Celia Wade-Brown, a former Wellington mayor, understood the coming announcement would include the end of regional councils as we know them.

“This is the opposite of localism, shows this coalition's lack of respect for any form of local government, and demonstrates that this government has almost zero interest in environmental protection nor public transport, which are two fundamental aspects of regional council mahi.”

In addition to environmental protection and public transport, regional councils sometimes also own ports. CentrePort in Wellington is mostly owned by the Greater Wellington Regional Council with the remainder owned by Horizons Regional Council.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the council reforms, mixed with new fast-track legislation, could weaken environmental oversight, erase local input and remove Māori from crucial decisions.

“This is not just tinkering with local government, this could rewrite who has power over our water, our whenua, our climate resilience, and our future,” she said.

“If these reforms go ahead, councils may lose their authority at the exact moment ministers acquire unprecedented fast-track powers.”

A statement from Local Government Minister Simon Watts’ office said Tuesday’s announcement “should be treated extremely delicately as it is market sensitive” and he would not be commenting earlier.

Labour local government spokesperson Tangi Utikere said he had not been consulted on the plans.