Waimakariri first to test merger options in face of Christchurch’s ‘Trumpian’ toll threat

Thursday, 4 June 2026

Canterbury mayors are having conversations about the future of their councils.

Waimakariri residents are the first in Canterbury to be asked directly for their feedback on three council amalgamation options.

The North Canterbury council has presented the public with three options for the district’s future:

* Remain a stand-alone unitary authority (with regional council powers).

* Create a North Canterbury authority with Hurunui and/or Kaikōura district councils

* Join a Greater Christchurch authority with Christchurch city and Selwyn district.

The Government announced its Head Start initiative on May 5, giving councils three months to submit proposals to amalgamate, and said it would step in and do it for those that chose not to. The proposals must be submitted by August 9.

Last Friday, the Canterbury Mayoral Forum met and agreed there would be more than one unitary authority for the region.

But tempers flared soon after when Christchurch City councillor Sam MacDonald said residents of Selwyn and Waimakariri should be tolled to enter Christchurch if their councils refused to merge with the city council.

Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey labelled the comments 'Trumpian' while Selwyn councillor Samuel Wilshire said Christchurch 'would be hungry, sober and naked' if they did not have Selwyn and Waimakariri.

'We are New Zealand's bread basket; we house, water and entertain your workforce, Sam,' said Wilshire.

Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said his council had only three options of pathway for potential almagamation.

Doocey added that “instead of wanting to build a wall” councils should be removing outdated borders to reduce rates.

Meanwhile, Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon said the scale of the reforms meant direct public consultation was essential.

'We need to understand what the community's thoughts are so we can represent them effectively, and what simplifying local government needs to look like.'

Consultation documents were released online on Tuesday and would be delivered to households across the district in the next couple of days, alongside a series of public drop-in sessions, he said.

Gordon believed there were only three options, though if the public had other ideas, 'we've left room for our community to put that in there and let us know if they'd like us to explore other options“.

Phil Mauger said the key is to council work together.

Waimakariri’s consultation closes on July 5.

The approach differs from the Christchurch City Council, which has launched an online questionnaire this week seeking residents' priorities, concerns and expectations for local government reform rather than asking them to choose between specific models.

If a proposal was approved by the Government in September, further consultation would follow, a city council spokesperson confirmed yesterday.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said in a statement that, while a unitary authority model was the intended outcome of the reforms, there remained flexibility around how Canterbury could be organised. 'The key now is working together.'

Timaru mayor Nigel Bowen hopes to do a more detailed consultation with the community in July.

A Selwyn District Council spokesperson said the council would share more information in the coming days.

An Ashburton District Council spokesperson said an options report was due before councillors on June 10 and no decision had yet been made on public consultation.

Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley and Timaru District Mayor Nigel Bowen indicated their councils wanted more discussions with neighbouring authorities and greater clarity around potential options before consulting the community.

Bowen said his council was currently collecting early feedback before moving to formal consultation, which he expected would occur in July.

'I'd like for us to be aligned in what we take to the communities, you know, across boundaries.

Waitaki mayor Melanie Tavendale said her council was still considering joining councils from Canterbury and Otago.

'So my expectation is that a formal consultation …will likely be in July.'

Mackenzie District Mayor Scott Aronsen said councils had been given little time to adequately consult communities before proposals were due. 'We are doing the best we can but it is very time restricted.'

Waitaki and Hurunui councils have also begun gathering public feedback.

Waitaki District Mayor Mel Tavendale said her council needed to consider options in both Canterbury and Otago.

She said the council was 'looking north and looking south , so that we can make some data-led decisions within the timeframes.'