35797 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

Written Question

Published date: 23 Aug 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	35797 (2026)
Question asked:	10 Aug 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister of Local Government
Minister replying:	Hon Simon Watts
Answer received:	18 Aug 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_35797_2026
Document guid:	b55f0a99-5201-451c-b69b-6adbec471687

35797 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: What assessment, if any, has been made of the loss of regional-scale capability in flood protection, catchment management, biosecurity and environmental monitoring arising from the abolition of regional councils, and what advice, if any, has he received from MCERT or the Ministry for the Environment on that topic?

Hon Simon Watts: The criteria for submitting a Head Start proposal includes support for the planning system and the continued delivery of regional services including flood protection, catchment management, biosecurity and environmental monitoring. The Government intends that there will be no loss of capability from these reforms.