Head Start Pathway FAQs

On 5 May, the Government announced a new Head Start pathway for councils to put forward a new local government organisation by either combining with neighbouring councils or taking on the functions currently delivered by regional councils (like ECAN).

The proposal doesn’t need to include the whole Canterbury region (although it could). The proposal deadline is 9 August, otherwise government will decide on our behalf in a compulsory backstop process.

To inform the proposal we put forward, we’re first asking what you think we should do and what matters most in a 60 second survey. We’ll then take that feedback to the discussion table with our neighbouring Canterbury councils before we form our proposal.

It’s for Selwyn to decide what it wants the future of its local government to look like. We’re moving quickly to gather information and we want your feedback on what matters most and what option Selwyn should take to the discussion table with our neighbouring councils.

The Head Start pathway is a voluntary process with a purpose to simplify local government through fewer councils covering larger responsibilities and areas of the country.

This could mean Selwyn combining with at least one other neighbouring council, or taking on the functions ECAN currently delivers at a regional level, or both. The new structure would come into effect from 2028.

If councils don’t pursue the Head Start pathway, the Government will decide what happens through a compulsory backstop process after the 2028 local government elections.

You can see all the options in the 60 second survey [link to /headstart]. In short, we’re asking which option is best for Selwyn:

• Explore amalgamation with neighbouring councils
• Explore becoming a Selwyn-based unitary authority, taking on functions currently managed at a regional level
• Explore both options before making a decision
• Neither of these options

We haven’t made any decisions. We are:

• Talking with our neighbouring councils
• Taking the time to understand the options
• Committed to hearing from our community before taking a formal position.

What we do know is that Selwyn residents are highly engaged in local matters and expect to have a say. We’ve seen that clearly in the huge response to our 2027 Draft Annual Plan.

We encourage you to:

• Read the information and take time to think about what options you prefer
• Talk it through with your family and community
• Share your views with us

It’s for Selwyn to decide what it wants the future of its local government to look like. We are open-minded and want to hear from the community in the 60 second survey.

No, but in order to progress the Head Start pathway, the Government requires us to combine with at least one other council or take on the regional functions currently delivered by ECAN. If Selwyn doesn’t pursue the Head Start pathway, the Government will decide what happens to Selwyn District Council and what councils it should combine with in the 2028 backstop process.

If Selwyn doesn’t combine, the Government will decide what happens to Selwyn District Council and what councils it should combine with in the 2028 backstop process.

We don’t have any more detail on what this could look like, so we want to focus on the opportunity to get your feedback through the 60 second survey and put forward an informed proposal.

Councils who choose the Backstop option risk less local control over what the new council structure looks like, and an interim governance body may run the transition after the 2028 local government elections.

Importantly, there’s no guarantee our community will be able to shape the direction of their future structure and representation under either pathway.

Unitary authorities are organisations that have the functions of both regional councils and territorial authorities (city/district councils). There are six unitary authorities across the country: Auckland, Gisborne, Chatham Islands, Nelson, Marlborough, and Tasman.

The Government will decide which proposals it would like to progress, but the more feedback we get, the stronger our case will be because we can show we are advocating for what you want. Your voice matters, so take 60 seconds to fill out the survey.

Local voice is one of five criteria  that the Government has requested be addressed in any Head Start proposals. We’re really clear that local voice needs to frame the conversations we have with our neighbouring councils and the proposal we put forward. That’s why taking 60 seconds to fill out the survey is so important.

We’re guided by what the Government has set out for us in the Head Start pathway. Right now, that pathway is asking us to combine with other councils or become a Selwyn-based unitary authority also delivering the functions currently delivered by ECAN.

Mana whenua have intrinsic and ancestral connection to te taiao (the environment) and the land, rivers and sea. We’re keen to hear all of these perspectives to inform our conversations with neighbouring councils and the Government.

It’s too early to say exactly what these reforms could mean, but we want to make sure any change we put forward can clearly demonstrate how it will improve outcomes for the community. That could be things like reducing duplication and finding efficiencies by sharing services across more people.

The 60 second survey asks the Selwyn community six questions about what Selwyn should do with the Government’s proposed Head Start pathway and what matters most.

We’ll take your feedback on what matters most to you and which option Selwyn should pursue to the discussion table with our neighbouring councils. Your feedback and those discussions will then inform the proposal we put forward to the Government.

We encourage all staff to take the 60 second survey as our people live and work here too. Due to their unique perspective, we are capturing this feedback separately.

The Head Start pathway requires councils to propose new unitary authorities that combine regional (like ECAN) and territorial council functions (like Selwyn District Council), to simplify local government and reduce duplication.

Proposals for new unitary authorities do not need to cover an entire region. They may also involve neighbouring councils. Proposals will be assessed on the following criteria:

1. Deliverability
   Proposals are realistic and demonstrate how new arrangements can be implemented in a timely manner.
2. Supports the new planning system
   Shows clear support for implementing the new planning system – including progress on spatial and natural environment plan development – and avoids or minimises disruption to that work.
3. Simplifies local governance
   Proposes more efficient regional governance arrangements, consolidating decision-making and improving alignment between a region’s councils.
4. Economies of scale
   Supports regional strategic planning and effective delivery of key regional functions (such as transport and catchment management), and demonstrates responsible and affordable asset management, infrastructure investment, and service delivery.
5. Maintains local voice
   Demonstrates fair and effective representation for communities of interest and how decisions will be made at the local level, balancing urban and rural interests.

The survey is open until 21 June, and then we will review the feedback and take the preferred option to the discussion table with our neighbouring councils. The finalised Head Start pathway submission is due to central Government on 9 August. We’ll keep you informed throughout the process. You can read the full timeline for the reforms here.

Selwyn Water is a Council-Controlled Organisation and a separate entity from the Council. Selwyn Water won’t be impacted by these reforms and will continue to deliver drinking and wastewater services for Selwyn District.

Yes, Selwyn District Council will continue collecting your bins, mowing sports fields, repairing roads and lending library books. While we are working to pull this plan together for our future state, it’s business as usual.