Articles tagged with Combined Territories Boards

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New Zealand’s New Planning System: Simplified Local Government & Faster Decisions

09 Dec 2025 | 9 months ago | 856 views

New Zealand’s new planning system aims to simplify local government processes by reducing complexity, cutting duplication, and delivering faster decisions through stronger national direction and fewer regional plans. The reform will replace over 100 existing policy statements with 17 regional combined plans developed in two years, aligning with proposed local government reforms to create simpler, more efficient governance structures. The government plans to introduce the related bills to Parliament soon, with national policy finalized within nine months and public consultation open until February 2026.

Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Watts New Zealand RMA Reform local government planning system Resource Management Act regional councils combined territories boards Expert Advisory Group

New Zealand Local Government Reform: Simplifying City Planning & Regional Management

25 Nov 2025 | 9 months ago | 962 views

The Government proposes major reforms to simplify local government by abolishing regional councils and replacing them with Combined Territories Boards composed of mayors, aiming to reduce duplication, costs, and complexity while enhancing accountability and regional collaboration. These Boards would lead locally-driven regional reorganisation plans to improve service delivery, infrastructure, and governance, with plans evaluated against criteria including financial responsibility, national priorities, local representation, and Treaty commitments. Consultation is open until February 2026, with the goal of establishing a more efficient, streamlined local government system that better serves communities and supports sustainable growth.

Tags: New Zealand government local government reform Mr Bishop Mr Watts regional councils Combined Territories Boards regional reorganisation resource management reforms Treaty settlements Department of Internal Affairs