Regional Development Minister Shane Jones first promoted the notion last week.
Then, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon yesterday said he was open to the idea being explored through Resource Management Act (RMA) Reform Minister Chris Bishop’s present work.
The Otago Daily Times canvassed Otago regional councillors, who expressed a range of views.
Cr Tim Mepham said Mr Jones’ New Zealand First party got only 6% of the vote at the last election and Mr Luxon had simply reverted to a response of ‘‘exploring possibilities’’ rather than supporting a previous position that supported localism.
‘‘If the government changes to the RMA significantly reduce the level of environmental management, then the need to administer consents, monitoring compliance and enforcement will be reduced,’’ Cr Mepham said.
‘‘Yes, this could lead to regional councils becoming redundant, creating savings. But shifting a damaging cost on to our environment and New Zealand’s clean green image — is this what New Zealanders really want?
‘‘I certainly don’t.’’
The Post reported Mr Jones who was speaking at Future Proofing New Zealand: The 2050 Local Government Forum, in Wellington — said once the RMA changes went through it would be difficult to justify regional councils’ existence.
‘‘After the upcoming changes to the RMA, I doubt, well, certainly in the party I belong to, that there’s going to be a compelling case for regional government to continue to exist.’’
Speaking to Newstalk ZB yesterday from Belgium, Mr Luxon was asked whether he supported disestablishing regional councils.
‘‘I have a personal view that I think that’s something that we can explore as part of that Resource Management Act legislation that Chris Bishop is driving through,’’ Mr Luxon said.
Cr Gary Kelliher said he was not surprised.
‘‘Expanding staff numbers coupled with huge rates rises year on year must leave the government wondering whether these councils are really serving their intended purpose, or have evolved into power-hungry beasts that are incredibly challenging to deal with and are strangling the ability for regional economies to grow.’’
Cr Michael Laws said he had long argued that there were too many tiers of local government and that unitary authorities were the better model.
‘‘This debate is long overdue and should also include the wider issue of whether an entire restructure of local government is required.
‘‘We can’t keep on creating expensive local government jobs for no discernible improvement in service, but horrendous rates hikes upon Otago residents,’’ Cr Laws said.
The issue went well beyond resource management, council chairwoman Gretchen Robertson said.
Regional councils operated under a wide range of legislation and delivered essential services that affected people’s daily lives, Cr Robertson said.
‘‘This is a crucial conversation about what works on the ground — delivering for communities through the right functions, at the right scale, with local voices at the table,’’ Cr Robertson said.
‘‘Focusing on what needs to be delivered — like flood protection, transport and environmental care — ensures better outcomes than getting sidetracked by structural change alone.’’
Cr Elliot Weir said they believed most in the local government sector were open to, and even had been been asking for, reform, but reform ‘‘has to have vision though, and ideally actually involve councils and the communities they represent’’.
Cr Lloyd McCall said he was open to reform, but the ‘‘biggest risk’’ was the loss of local input through the centralisation of policy, implementation and regulation.
