Christchurch council advisers slam ‘weak’ Government reforms, call for super city instead

Wednesday, 3 December 2025

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Christchurch City Council advisers are proposing a Greater Christchurch super city as an alternative to the Government’s “weak” plan to shake-up regional governance.

At a city council briefing on Tuesday, staff said the Government proposal to pass regional decision-making to local mayors is “unlikely” to produce the best outcome for Christchurch ratepayers.

The proposal creates a governance structure that is “temporary and weak”, and the mayoral negotiation forum was “not a credible decision-making body”, principal policy advisors Tom Lee and Luke Adams told councillors.

“It risks weakening rather than strengthening regional governance at a time when Canterbury needs stability, clarity, and long-term direction.”

Lee and Adams are instead proposing either a Greater Christchurch metro super city encompassing Selwyn, Waimakariri and Environment Canterbury (ECan) or a Christchurch Unitary Council, which sees the council take on board ECan’s functions.

Last week, the Government announced the biggest reorganisation of local government since 1989. It wants to scrap elected regional councillors and replace them with Combined Territories Boards (CTBs), likely made up of district and city mayors who would assume all current regional council responsibilities.

Christchurch City Council chief executive Mary Richardson says any reform needs to be cost effective.

These boards would then have to write a reorganisation plan for their region, mapping out how councils could better co-operate. Options include sharing services, reallocating functions, or merging smaller councils together.

But Lee and Adams said the council must shape its own governance future to deliver the best outcomes for Christchurch ratepayers, not have it decided by temporary forums or regional politics.

The council needed to design a system that reflected the scale, complexity, and expectations of a major metropolitan centre. The two alternative options presented to councillors - a super city or unitary authority - would “strengthen, not dilute”, the role of the metropolitan centre, they said.

“Christchurch requires a structure and process that is evidence-based, durable, and capable of delivering regional outcomes.”

Councillors appeared to agree and in a rare move, they clapped at the end of the presentation.

However, the cost of developing a super city or a unitary authority was not yet known.

Council chief executive Mary Richardson said she was very mindful of how much the Auckland super city model cost to implement.

Should the rapidly growing town of Rolleston become part of a Christchurch super city?

“It was very expensive and implementation was hundreds of millions of dollars so what we achieve needs to be cost effective.”

Auckland City cost more than $250 million to create in 2010, but according to the council, it saved about $1.9b in its first 10 years.

Cr Tim Scandrett wanted to know if the Government was going to front up with any compensation for councils, given the inevitable additional costs of reform.

Cr Pauline Cotter said she would prefer starting with a unitary council and then progressing to a super city.

Cr Tyrone Fields asked if Christchurch envisaged taking in the entire Selwyn district, which would mean Arthurs’ Pass would be part of Christchurch.

Selwyn mayor Lydia Gliddon says she is committed to ensuring the district’s interests are strongly represented.

Adams said they were looking at the urban areas, but they did not know what that looked like on a map just yet.

Feilds said Selwyn and Waimakariri could just tell the council “to get stuffed”.

Adams said part of the process from now would be to engage with Selwyn and Waimakariri councils.

After the briefing, mayor Phil Mauger said it was no secret that he liked the unitary model, but he emphasised that the “ink was only just dry” on the Government’s proposal so there was still a lot to discuss.

Selwyn and Waimakariri mayors would not be drawn on their views of a super city, but both wanted to ensure any reform resulted in the best outcome for their districts.

Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon says the district’s residents value localism, autonomy and direct access to decision makers.

Selwyn mayor Lydia Gliddon said she had yet to talk to councillors and staff about what a super city could mean for Selwyn but she was committed to ensuring the district’s interests were strongly represented.

“Any reform must strengthen local decision-making and deliver better value for ratepayers.”

Gliddon said she supported exploring models that reduced duplication and complexity, provided they upheld Selwyn’s autonomy and identity.

“The focus must remain on practical, cost-effective changes that improve outcomes for our communities.”

Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said he also had yet to have detailed discussions with staff or councillors about the reforms.

He was open to discussing the best possible model for all of Canterbury, but he was also aware the local community valued localism, autonomy and direct access to decision makers.

“Whatever changes come about, maintaining that connection, accessibility, and accountability to Waimakariri residents is paramount.”

Councils have until February 20 to submit their views on the Government proposal.