Simplifying local government
The government is changing the way local government is organised in New Zealand, with councils being asked to look at how they could merge with others.
In May 2026, the government gave councils a three-month window – called the Head Start(PDF, 823KB) pathway – where they could put forward proposals on amalgamation with other councils.
Over that time Mayors and chief executives in the region and nearby met regularly to discuss opportunities and challenges. We also commissioned and considered data and technical analysis, engaged with Iwi and Hapū partners, and asked the community for their initial thoughts.
After carrying out this work, our council decided at a 4 August meeting(PDF, 130KB) that it was better to take the time to gather more information and fully understand the implications before making such a significant change.
Rather than having the government make the decision on amalgamation for us, we decided to work proactively with five other councils to explore the possibilities.
On Friday, 7 August Rangitīkei, Tararua, Manawatū, Ruapehu and Whanganui district councils signed a Memorandum of Understanding(PDF, 240KB) and let the government know we were establishing a collaborative programme of work to properly assess the options.
The programme will build a shared evidence base, test regional and sub-regional options, and work to better understand the opportunities and challenges facing local government across the region before any council decides its future direction.
Working together in this way does not predetermine which councils will ultimately join together and any councils that wish to join the group can still take up the opportunity.
As the work develops, we will continue to talk with Iwi and Hapū and ensure that the lens of Te Awa Tupua, and the relationships and responsibilities that come with it, are considered.
Our aim is to make sure that the structural changes coming to local government deliver the best possible outcomes for Whanganui and the wider region.
The Simplifying Local Government programme
Across the country, councils have been facing fiscal, governance and delivery challenges, including growing infrastructure backlogs, constrained funding settings and increasing expectations.
The government's reform programme is intended to simplify local government, reduce duplication and improve regional coordination.
In November 2025, the government proposed replacing regional councillors with a group made up of a region’s mayors to simplify local government. While submissions showed general support for the need to reform local government, significant questions were raised about how this proposal would work in practice.
In May 2026, the government announced a different approach – councils would have a three-month window to submit proposals for how they could merge with others through a pathway called Head Start.
While considering the possibility of merging with neighbouring councils, councils were asked to ensure that their proposals would create unitary authorities.
What's a unitary authority? There are several areas in New Zealand with unitary councils but, in most places in New Zealand, the same area is served by two separate councils that share responsibility for local government:
- regional councils like Horizons are responsible for managing the natural environment and region-wide issues such as rivers, air quality and public transport planning
- territorial councils (city and district councils – like Whanganui District Council) focus on local services such as local roads, parks, libraries, recycling and community facilities.
Under a unitary authority, one council carries out both regional and territorial council functions instead of having two separate councils.
Our work through Head Start
Between May-August 2026, while the Head Start pathway was open, we explored options and heard initial thoughts from the community.
Check out our initial video from Mayor Andrew below:
Staying informed
We know this is a really significant change for our community because it affects how local decisions are made, how services are delivered, and what local identity looks like in the future.
As work progresses on exploring options through our MOU collaboration, we'll provide the community with updates – keep an eye on this web page or the Whanganui District Council Facebook page.