DCC votes to press ahead with Head Start plans

The Dunedin City Council is throwing its support behind the creation of two new unitary councils for Otago – one covering coastal parts of the region and a second for inland areas.

Councillors met this morning to determine how the DCC will participate in the Government's Simplifying Local Government (SLG) reform programme.

Councillors voted to work with Queenstown Lakes District Council to develop and, subject to the approval of both councils, submit a Head Start proposal which would create two new unitary councils for Otago – a Coastal Otago Unitary Authority and an Inland Otago Unitary Authority.

Councillors voted 9-4 with one abstention to press ahead with the proposal.

Mayor Barker and Councillors Chambers, Garey, Hall, Lucas, Mayhem, Treadwell, Walker and Weatherall voted in favour. Councillors Simms, Vandervis, Lund and Galer voted against, while Councillor Laufiso abstained.

All councils around NZ have the option to suggest what their future state will be by submitting a Simplifying Local Government ‘Head Start’ proposal by August 9, or wait for central government to decide for them through a 'Backstop' option.

The ‘Head Start’ approach is a voluntary process enabling groups of territorial authorities to develop locally-led proposals for unitary governance arrangements. Successful proposals will be implemented through bespoke legislation in early 2028.

The alternative ‘Backstop’ process will be a mandatory Government-led process that will be applied to councils not participating in the Head Start process.

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