Feedback has now closed. Thank you to everyone who shared your views.
Next steps
All feedback will be considered at the Council meeting on 5 August, where Council will decide its response to the government ahead of the 9 August deadline. We expect there to be further community consultation in future.
The government has given councils three months to put forward ideas about how local government could work in the future
Councils have been asked to propose ideas on how we might reduce the number of councils. One option the government is interested in is “unitary authorities” — a single council responsible for both regional and local services. This is because the government has announced there will be no more regional councils from October 2028.
If councils do not develop their own proposals, the government may decide what changes happen in our region.
Possible changes could include:
- Palmerston North City Council merging with other councils, or parts of other councils
- More services being shared between councils
- Changes to council boundaries
- Different ways local decisions are made
Future changes could affect things like:
- Rates
- How you are represented
- Community facilities and services
- Infrastructure investment
- Palmerston North’s identity and priorities
Any decision would shape local government in our region for decades to come
No decisions have been made yet. This is an opportunity for our community to tell us what matters most to you.
The first step in this process is a Council meeting on 5 August. At this meeting, Council will consider community feedback. Elected members will also look at any opportunities identified with potential council partners before responding to the government by 9 August.