Minister Watts has announced that Head Start will not be progressed until after the 2026 General Election.

Selwyn District Council says it remains committed to working in partnership with the government of the day to achieve the best outcome for Selwyn communities, while continuing to advocate for the future governance arrangement strongly supported by local residents.

Mayor Lydia Gliddon said the council's focus remained on securing an outcome that recognised Selwyn's unique growth pressures and reflected the wishes of its communities.

"We want the best outcome for Selwyn, and that means working constructively with central government, our neighbouring councils and our communities as discussions about local government reform continue."

"The position of Selwyn residents has been very clear. Through our consultation, people told us overwhelmingly that they wanted Selwyn to become a standalone unitary authority, and we will continue to support and advocate for that view going forward."

Mayor Gliddon said the council was disappointed that councils had been asked to move quickly to develop and submit outline proposals, only for decisions to now be deferred.

"Selwyn invested significant effort into this process, including consulting with our communities. We owe it to those who took the time to share their views to ensure their voices continue to be heard.

"We have also asked the Department of Internal Affairs for feedback on our proposal and look forward to receiving that. We believe it will provide valuable input as discussions about local government reform continue."

She said the district's circumstances needed to remain front and centre in any future discussions about local government reform.

"As New Zealand's fastest-growing district, Selwyn faces unique growth, infrastructure and service delivery challenges. Our district is experiencing growth at a scale few other parts of New Zealand are facing, and it's important any future local government arrangements recognise those realities and give our communities a strong voice."

Mayor Gliddon said the council recognised the complexity of the issues involved and the need for genuine partnership to work through them.

"We recognise this is a complex issue, and working through it will require genuine partnership, collaboration and a shared commitment to finding solutions that work for our communities and the wider region."

"While we will continue to strongly advocate for Selwyn's interests and the clear preference expressed by our residents, we remain committed to working constructively with our neighbouring councils and central government on the future of regional council functions and wider local government reform."

Last modified: 24 Sep 2026 11:38am