36210 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government

Written Question

Published date: 25 Aug 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	36210 (2026)
Question asked:	11 Aug 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister of Local Government
Minister replying:	Hon Simon Watts
Answer received:	19 Aug 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_36210_2026
Document guid:	9b5a898e-a0cd-494a-9dc8-dbb4c365f590

36210 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Local Government: What risks were identified in the Regulatory Impact Statement or other Cabinet papers prepared before the Government agreed to the Head Start and Back Stop processes announced in May 2026, if any?

Hon Simon Watts: The Ministry for Regulation determined that the Head Start pathway was exempt from the requirement to provide a regulatory impact statement on the grounds that it had been addressed by existing impact analysis [CAB-25-MIN-0397 refers]. The cabinet paper identified that there would be a number of implications. The proactively released cabinet material can be found on the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport website at the following link: www.mcert.govt.nz/our-work/local-government/local-government-policy/simplifying-local-government/head-start-for-simplifying-local-government.