Sign In / Register
Kaipara District Council (KDC) has moved a step closer to transforming the future of local government by officially agreeing to join the Head Start Elected Members Steering Group.
KDC joins Whangārei and Far North district councils and Northland Regional Council in the steering group. Councillors Craig Jepson and Gordon Lambeth will represent the district, alongside Mayor Jonathan Larsen.
The steering group brings together elected representatives from all four councils across Northland to provide regional leadership and oversight of work exploring how local government could be organised in the future.
The decision comes after central government announced its Head Start Pathway last month. Councils can submit a reorganisation proposal to government by August this year or face a compulsory “backstop” process that would see regional council governance exercised by an interim body. Legislation for the backstop will be enacted before nominations open for the 2028 local elections.
“I see the winds of change are blowing from central government towards us on this, and I think it is important we have a seat at the table and fight for the best deal we can get for Kaipara,” councillor Luke Canton said.
The steering group, which is focusing on a “by Northland for Northland” approach, will collaborate across councils, helping to develop and test options for future governance and service delivery arrangements.
“Although we are being directed by central government to undertake this process, I think one of the most important parts is ensuring we do not lose local democracy. People still want to be able to communicate with their representatives, and it is important that they have a say,” councillor Jepson said.
Mayor Larsen said the work is just getting underway and emphasised that no formal decisions about local government reform had been made.
“There are no predetermined outcomes here. While the timeframe is tight, we want to take our community with us and understand what matters most to our ratepayers and residents. “We’ll continue to share regular updates and be looking at any ways we can gather feedback as we go” Mayor Larsen said.
