Councils are being instructed by Central Government to work together on what the future of local government could look like. This could mean councils joining together and operating as one larger Council.
This decision is bigger and longer lasting then any one Mayor, Elected Member or Council Officer. Potential changes like this could affect who represents our communities, how decisions are made and services that are delivered in the future.
No decisions have been made but it’s important to Manawatū District Council that the community helps shape the next steps.
Don't sit this one out
It’s important Council hears from as many people in our community as possible to help understand what direction we should take.
Whether you prefer face-to-face conversations, reading information online, or good old-fashioned paper copies, there are plenty of ways to be part of the conversation.
Take some time to explore the information below, read the fact sheet, or better yet, join us at a public meeting. No RSVP is required.
Whether you already have strong views, are still learning about the topic, or simply want to ask questions, you are welcome.
What’s behind these discussions?
There are two key reasons these conversations are happening.
Firstly, Central Government has indicated that Regional Councils and their functions may no longer continue in their current form as part of future local government reform.
Secondly, Central Government has given councils three months to put forward their own ideas for amalgamation or local government reform before submissions close on 9 August 2026. This is being referred to as the “Head Start” process.
If councils do not put forward a proposal, or if their proposal is rejected, Central Government has indicated it may step in and determine future council structures through what is being referred to as the “Back Stop” process.
Exactly what both the Head Start and Back Stop processes will involve is still being developed by Central Government.
These decisions could drastically shape how communities are represented, how local decisions are made, and how services are delivered into the future.
Central Government has asked councils to consider future local government reform options, including possible amalgamation.
Councils have been given a limited timeframe to consider whether they want to put forward their own proposals as part of the Government’s “Head Start” process.
The “Head Start” process is the Government’s process allowing councils to put forward their own local government reform or amalgamation proposals before 9 August 2026.
Central Government has indicated that if councils do not put forward proposals, or if proposals are rejected, Government may step in and determine future council structures itself through what it is calling the “Back Stop” process.
A unitary authority is a single council that carries out both regional council functions and district or city council functions.
Currently, different councils are responsible for different parts of local government. For example:
- District and city councils manage services such as local roads, rubbish, libraries, parks, building consents, and community facilities.
- Regional councils manage areas such as public transport, environmental management, flood protection, and regional planning.
A unitary authority combines these responsibilities into one larger council structure.
Amalgamation means joining with neighbouring Councils to deliver local government services as larger unitary authority, often referred to as amalgamation.
Amalgamation is when two or more councils combine together to form one larger council structure.
This is not simply a change of logo, name, or branding.
If amalgamation were to happen, Manawatū District Council as it currently exists would no longer operate in the same way it does today.
Potential changes could include:
- different council boundaries,
- changes to local representation and elected members,
- decisions being made across a larger area,
- changes to how services are delivered,
- shared funding and infrastructure priorities,
- and a new governance structure replacing existing councils.
Exactly what this could look like would depend on any future proposal and decisions made by Central Government.
No.
No decisions have been made about the future structure of Manawatū District Council or any possible amalgamation.
This consultation is about understanding community views before any future direction is considered.
