A Greater Christchurch is ‘inevitable’, says MP Matt Doocey, but this does not mean amalgamation consultation is a ‘sham’

Wednesday, 22 July 2026

Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey says a Greater Christchurch Council is ‘inevitable.’

Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey’s statement that a Greater Christchurch Council is “inevitable” has prompted some elected councillors to ask whether government consultation on local body amalgamation is a sham.

The Government has given local authorities until August 9 to submit Head Start proposals for new unitary authorities that will take on the responsibilities of regional councils. It has also said it wants fewer local councils prompting widespread speculation Christchurch City could merge with its neighbours Selwyn and Waimakariri.

However, public feedback has made it appear increasingly unlikely a three-way merger would be proposed.

Last week, Doocey called on the three councils to commission research which would show ratepayers how their proposed new structures would impact rates over the next 10 years.

“Without knowing how much these options are going to impact individual rates, it is impossible for people to fully determine the best outcomes and therefore make an informed decision either way.”

He also said “a Greater Christchurch Council was inevitable in the future”, a comment which ignited debate among councillors from the three districts, who met to discuss the Head Start Pathway proposals last Thursday.

Selwyn District councillor John Verry said Doocey’s statement led him to believe the Government had already decided councils would be forced to amalgamate.

“They’ve already made the decision … They'll just use the best parts of the submissions that suit the way they want to go.

Selwyn District councillor John Verry believes the government’s consultation over amalgamation was “a sham”.

“It's really a sham consultation.”

Fellow Selwyn councillor Brendan ‘Big Red’ Shefford agreed. “With Matt Doocey making a comment like that, he would almost suggest that the Government has made a predetermined outcome.”

Selwyn councillor and deputy mayor Big Red Shefford (pictured with Mayor Lydia Gliddon) said rates had not gone down after Auckland became a super city.

As a real estate agent, Shefford said he sold many houses for people from Auckland who were running away from the “super city”.

“When the super city in Auckland was created in 2010, it was to make everything more affordable, but It hasn’t. Rates have gone up consistently.”

Christchurch City councillor Aaron Keown says the best countries in the world have more councils than New Zealand.

Christchurch city councillor Keown said he believed “most things through Parliament are predetermined” and called on ministers to be honest. “If they really know the model they’re going for, what would be more open and honest is to come out and just say it.”

Keown said he had looked at the countries and cities considered the best in the world.

“It’s always the Scandinavians and various Europeans and bits of Canada or America and then England, Australia. If you look at the size of how many councils they have, New Zealand actually has few councils compared to them.”

Christchurch City councillor Nathaniel Herz Jardine says Doocey clearly wants a Christchurch super city.

Not all councillors agreed Doocey's comments reflected Government policy.

Christchurch city councillor Nathaniel Herz-Jardine believed Doocey was expressing a personal opinion.

“I think there are some — and obviously Matt Doocey is one of them — who really want Greater Christchurch as a super city.

“Usually you say something is inevitable if you just really want it to happen.”

Waimakariri councillor Bruce McLaren also dismissed suggestions the Government had already made its decision. “We live in New Zealand, not some other developing nation or autocratic country.”

McLaren said Doocey had long advocated for Greater Christchurch but had also made clear the community would decide.

McLaren and fellow Waimakariri councillor Shona Powell both said the 90-day timeframe for submitting proposals was too short for what they described as the biggest shake-up of local government in decades.

On Wednesday, Doocey said his comments reflected his personal view, not a Government position.“I believe a Greater Christchurch council is inevitable at some point in the future and would be a result of evolution rather than revolution.”

Doocey rejected suggestions his comments implied the Government had predetermined the outcome of the Head Start process.

“The Government has asked local councils in good faith to look at what options are best for their own ratepayers and we look forward to receiving their proposals next month when we will consider all feedback and options.”

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Local Government Minister Simon Watts declined to comment, referring requests to Doocey.