Conversation on future of councils starts with panel and live voting

Published on 04 June 2026

Whanganui residents are being asked to weigh in on one of the biggest changes to local government in decades.

With councils across the region considering how local government could be simplified, Whanganui District Council wants to hear what matters most to the community. A public information evening will be held on Tuesday 9 June at 5.30pm, alongside online engagement, to help shape Whanganui’s response.

Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe says the evening will be a chance to explore the biggest change for councils in decades.

“Central government plans to change local government and, through its Head Start programme, is giving councils until 9 August to develop proposals for how they could merge with others – or risk having change imposed on them.”

“We know people care deeply about how having a say on local issues and how local services are delivered in communities”, Mayor Andrew says.

“While this work is still in its early stages, we’re keen to hear people’s views on what matters most and what your priorities and concerns are at this early stage – as these will directly inform the options we develop and the key partners we talk to.”

There will be a short but critical opportunity for community to provide feedback over the next three weeks, with a public information evening featuring a discussion panel and live audience voting, and the ongoing opportunity to participate in online forums and surveys.

“We’re doing things a bit differently with a livestreamed panel of community members sharing their perspectives and the audience using phones to give feedback and see in real time how others are voting,” Mayor Andrew says.

Mayor Andrew says he’d encourage everyone to give feedback via Whanganui District Council’s Head Start survey, or other online forums, from Monday, 8 June.

“Central government has given us little time – so prioritising this is critical on a change that will affect Whanganui for decades to come,” says Mayor Andrew. 

Following this initial engagement, a second stage of engagement will follow once options based on what matters to Whanganui residents have been developed.

The Head Start survey opens on Monday 8 June on the Have Your Say page on the Whanganui District Council website: www.whanganui.govt.nz/haveyoursay

 Event details

Concert Chamber, Whanganui War Memorial Centre
Tuesday 9 June 5.30pm
Approx. 1.5 hours
Livestreamed
No registration required – all welcome (maximum capacity for the venue is 300)