Our future is changing - have your say

Local government across New Zealand is in a period of significant change.

New Government direction, rising infrastructure costs, changes to how water services will be delivered, and increasing pressure to keep rates affordable are all coming together at the same time.

Recent announcements have added urgency. Councils have been given a short timeframe to work with others in their region to consider how local government could be reorganised, with a clear signal that change is coming, whether councils lead it or not.

Normally, work of this scale would involve detailed modelling, formal consultation, and longer timeframes to test different options with our community. That is not the environment we are working in.

This means parts of this process, particularly around potential structural change, may feel less defined and more iterative than you might expect. That is the reality of working within the timeframe we have been given.

What we can do is start the conversation early, share what we know, be clear about what we don’t, and make sure community views help shape the direction we take.

This work is what we are calling our Future Fit Roadmap. It will also help inform our Long Term Plan and support future decision-making as national reform continues to develop.

No decisions have been made. During our Annual Plan we signalled there were important conversations we'd need you to be involved in. This is the beginning of those conversations, and we need to hear from you.

Why are we having this conversation?

The Government has signalled that change is coming across the local government sector.

This includes:

• potential structural reform, including councils working more closely together or combining
• a stronger focus on affordability, including possible limits on rates increases
• major reform of water services, which in most cases will move delivery away from councils.

Each of these on its own is significant. Together, they create a complex set of challenges.

For example, as water services transition away from council, some costs will remain. These are often referred to as stranded overheads, and they will still need to be managed and funded.

At the same time, if rates increases are limited, councils will need to carefully consider what services they deliver, how they deliver them, and what level of investment is sustainable.

Like every council across New Zealand, we need to plan ahead in this environment.

We want to hear what matters most to you

As we begin this work, there are a few key things we need to understand from our community. Firstly, we want to hear your views on potential structural change.

• Do you support councils working more closely together or combining?
• If so, who do you think we should work with, and why?
• If not, what are your concerns?

Alongside this, we want to understand what matters most to you as we plan for the future. While this is happening Council still needs to develop its Long Term Plan.

• What services and facilities are most important to you?
• What should we continue investing in, and what might need to change?
• How important is it to you to keep decision-making local?
• How do we balance affordability with the need to invest in infrastructure and growth?
• What should we protect as non-negotiable for Horowhenua?

These are not simple questions, and there will be different views across our district. That is why hearing from our community early is important.

How decisions may be made

As part of this process, there are two broad pathways for how change could happen. One option is often referred to as a head start approach. This is where councils work together, with their communities, to help shape what future arrangements could look like. The other is a backstop approach. This is where decisions are made at a national level if local proposals are not put forward within the required timeframe.

At this stage, no decisions have been made about which pathway may apply. What this does mean is that there is an opportunity now to help shape the future direction, while that option remains available.

What happens next?

Over the coming months, we will work through this in stages. This includes:

• gathering community views
• working through different scenarios and options
• engaging with neighbouring councils and partners
• continuing to build our Long Term Plan.

Because of the timeframe, this work will move more quickly than usual. In some areas, particularly potential structural reform, it may not follow the full consultation process you might normally expect. Where formal consultation is required, such as for the Long Term Plan, that will still occur.

Alongside this page, you’ll find:

• a survey where you can share your views
• FAQs explaining the current Government proposals and what they could mean
• updates as this work progresses.

We will continue to share information as it becomes available.

Privacy Statement

All feedback will be made publicly available on our website. For more information, see our privacy statement on www.horowhenua.govt.nz/PrivacyStatement