28828 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

28828 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: What estimate, if any, has the Minister received of the value of council expenditure that may be duplicated or wasted as a result of sequencing local government reorganisation alongside resource management and water services reform?

Hon Simon Watts: There may be some financial implications for councils seeking to enter the Head Start pathway. To the extent the Head Start is voluntary and reflects the aspirations and preparatory work already under way among relevant councils, this should be manageable. Creating a simpler, more effective and efficient system of local government should improve the delivery of priorities such as resource management and water services reform. The Head Start pathway is designed to support delivery of the new planning system. It gives councils that are ready to move early the confidence to keep implementing the new planning system now, while shaping governance arrangements that better align over time with how the new planning system is designed to work. Delivering the new planning system remains core business for all councils, whichever pathway they choose.