Palmerston North opens conversations on future council arrangements

Published on 28 May 2026

At yesterday’s Council meeting, elected members agreed to begin actively exploring local government reform opportunities and open conversations with neighbouring councils following the Government’s recent announcement on council amalgamations.

This means we’ll begin looking at possible opportunities and partnerships, talking to you about what matters most, and working with nearby councils to better understand what future arrangements across the region could look like. No decisions on amalgamation or possible options have been made.

Mayor Grant Smith said the decision was about making sure Palmerston North has a strong voice in shaping any future changes.

“The Government has made it clear that local government reform is coming, and yesterday’s decision ensures Palmerston North is part of those conversations from the beginning.”

As there are still many unanswered questions from Government and the timeframes are very tight, investigation work, community engagement, and regional discussions will all need to happen at the same time over the next several weeks.

“We know people will have questions that we can’t fully answer yet, because many of those conversations and details are still developing. But getting feedback early will help us better understand what matters most to our community and help shape better outcomes for our city and region.”

“As the largest population centre in the wider region, it makes sense for us to help lead conversations and explore possibilities. But this is not about forcing anyone into anything. Any future arrangements would need to work well for everyone involved.”

“If changes are going to happen, we want to make sure our community helps shape them, rather than having decisions made for us.”

From early June, we’ll be asking you what matters most when it comes to local decision-making, services, and how councils can work together in the future.

Details about public meetings and ways to share feedback will be released next week.

In early August, elected members will consider a response to the Government, and your feedback will be shared with them in advance.