Council adopts Selwyn Unitary Authority proposal for submission to Government

Selwyn District Council has taken the next step in shaping the district's future, adopting a proposal for a Selwyn Unitary Authority and confirming it will be submitted to the Government's Head Start local government reform pathway by 9 August. The decision was made at an extraordinary Council meeting on 5 August.

The proposal follows extensive community engagement, with nearly 11,000 responses received across two surveys. The most recent What's next, Selwyn? survey attracted more than 4,000 responses, with 58% supporting a Selwyn Unitary Authority, more than twice the support of the Mid Canterbury option and more than three times the support of the Northern four-council option.

At the meeting where Councillors voted to proceed with a proposal for a Selwyn Unitary Authority on Thursday 30 July, Mayor Lydia Gliddon said the community had provided Council with a clear direction.

"Our community has told us they value strong local representation, local decision-making and a future that keeps Selwyn's priorities at the forefront. Today's decision allows us to put forward a proposal shaped by that feedback and built around Selwyn's proven capability and strong record of delivering for our communities."

The adopted proposal would see Selwyn take on both district and regional council responsibilities within its existing boundaries while continuing to work collaboratively with neighbouring councils on matters of shared interest.

Council also delegated authority to the Mayor and Chief Executive to approve minor amendments to the proposal before submission and to support any requests from other Canterbury councils relating to their Head Start proposals before the deadline.

Mayor Gliddon said the decision was an important milestone, but not the final step.

The proposal will now be considered by Government as part of the Head Start process. If it progresses, there will be further detailed design work and opportunities for discussion before any changes are implemented.

Any new arrangements would not be expected to take effect until 2028.

You can read the full proposal here. Please note, minor amendments may be made to this proposal, and we will ensure this is available on our HeadStart page as soon as possible.