Last week's SuperLocal Te wānanga / SuperLocal conference hosted by Local Government New Zealand was as well-attended as ever, with elected members and local government leaders from across the motu gathering in Rotorua to discuss the challenges and opportunities for local government.  Buddle Findlay partners David Allen and Natasha Wilson summarise their top takeaways from this year's Super Local conference.

The only certainty is uncertainty

Unsurprisingly, a common theme of this year's conference was the challenge of governing through uncertainty.  The last couple of months has seen the passing of the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Act 2026, the introduction of the Local Government (Rates Capping) Amendment Bill (which we discuss here), and RMA reform among other changes such as ongoing Local Water Done Well reform implementation – all against a constrained fiscal backdrop and the ongoing challenges of aging infrastructure.  But uncertainty also creates opportunity: local government is well placed to take the lead on making decisions about how to deliver the best outcomes for its communities.

RMA reform – new legislation is just the start

As we've written about here, the Planning Act 2026 and Natural Environment Act 2026 are now law, having been passed in Parliament's final sitting days.  As the new system is bedded in over the next four years significant resourcing and cost demands will be incurred by local government.  At the same time this creates ongoing pressure for iwi, communities and developers to keep engaging at a time when many are suffering engagement fatigue.

A Head Start then a pause – what's next?

The recent announcement by government that it will take additional time to decide how to progress local government reorganisation came as a disappointment to some (but not all) councils, many of whom invested time and effort in submitting amalgamation proposals.  Local government leaders were clear – they want certainty about when decisions might be made, what the framework for reorganisation will look like, and how local communities can be involved in these critical decisions.

Substance over structure

Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche spoke about ongoing central government reform, including the creation of the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT), a one-stop shop for local government.  He also cautioned against focusing too much on the structural elements of reorganisation.  The substance – how services can best be provided to local communities, and how local communities can be involved in (and aware of) key decisions – should be the focus.

Regional functions

With possible future amalgamation in mind, we presented a session on regional functions in tomorrow's world. Our key messages were:

  • Change of some sort is coming.

  • It's crucial to identify and properly understand the functions of regional councils to know what the issues are with current delivery and make decisions about at what level those functions are best carried out (locally, regionally, or nationally).  The problem definition should always be the starting point.

  • Amalgamation and operating at a regional level is not a new concept – unitary authorities have been carrying out territorial authority and regional council functions for nearly 30 years.  Each of these has lessons learned – some will apply to other councils and communities, others will not.

  • Don't strive for perfection – there aren't any perfect models, and there will always be bespoke issues to work through.

  • Collaborate and talk with each other.  Try and not reinvent the wheel – we are too small for bespoke solutions for every matter.  That said, engagement with iwi, your communities and developers remain critical to reflect local voices in decisions about reorganisation, and future decisions.