Representatives from Ashburton, Timaru, Mackenzie, Waimate and Waitaki councils met in Timaru on Monday alongside Environment Canterbury councillors and the Department of Internal Affairs.
While leaders stressed no decisions had been made, the talks come as councils consider whether to opt into the Government’s voluntary Head Start reform pathway or wait for a Government-imposed solution.
Ashburton Mayor Liz McMillan said there was some good discussion.
“No decisions were made.
“It’s still early, and the discussion is still going on.”
McMillan said it’s not a case of councils keeping their cards close to their chest and putting on a poker face.
“Everyone is still exploring and discussing their options rather than making decisions.”
Timaru District Mayor Nigel Bowen said the discussion was a valuable starting point for considering the opportunities, challenges, and regional implications arising from the reform programme.
Like McMillan, Bowen described it as an “exploratory” meeting where no decisions were made.
“We instead focused on building a shared understanding of the reform direction and the need for a considered, locally informed response that reflects the interests of communities across the wider sub-region.”
“The conversation underlined the importance of taking the time to understand what any future response could mean for governance, service delivery and local representation in this part of the country.
“There is more work to do, but the discussion was constructive and showed a shared commitment to approaching the issue thoughtfully and collaboratively.”
The conversations will ramp up when the Canterbury Mayoral Forum sits down on Friday.
McMillan said mayors have a focus on delivering good outcomes for their districts, but also “have to look at what is right for the region”.
Christchurch, Selwyn, and Waimakariri Mayors were set to meet on Wednesday.
Kaikōura mayor Craig Mackle has indicated forming alignment with Hurunui, given the two districts have a joint water services Council Controlled Organisation to manage their Three Waters infrastructure.
Mackle said that with a combined 12,000 ratepayers, further amalgamation with either the Waimakariri or Marlborough would be needed to form a financially viable unitary council.
Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie has said councils should be allowed to remain as they are, with a board of mayors to replace the elected regional councillors on a permanent basis.
But it was unclear whether this would be allowed, with the emphasis on councils combining to form unitary councils.
Councils are working out a response to the reforms, including deciding whether to opt in to the voluntary Head Start pathway and progress locally led reorganisation proposals.
If they don’t submit a proposal by August 9 they will wait for the Government-led backstop process.
All the changes are expected to take effect for the 2028 local elections.
