35820 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

35820 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: Why was the Local Government Commission not made the lead agency for the Head Start process, given its central role in the 1989 nationwide local government reforms?

Hon Simon Watts: The Government considered that the Head Start process was primarily a policy work programme that was best undertaken by officials from the Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport and that proposals should be locally led by councils themselves.