By Adam Burns of RNZ 

• The mayor of the Southland district is calling for a new local government structure for the wider region
• The proposal would consolidate the four existing Southland councils into two unitary authorities
• Southland district mayor Rob Scott said the proposal would save an estimated $10 million each year
• The plan would aim to retain "a local voice", with community boards and river liaison committees given greater powers

Southland's district mayor Rob Scott says the bottom of the country is "over-governed" and is calling for a merger of the region's local authorities.

The proposal - that would save an estimated $10m annually - would include the establishment of two unitary authorities in Southland, rather than the existing four councils.

The region's representation comprises of the Invercargill City Council, Southland District Council, Gore District Council and Southland Regional Council.

Scott said the proposal would "reduce cost and improve efficiency" for local decision-making, off the back of a 13 percent rates increase for the 2024-25 financial year.

"Those numbers aren't palatable, but they're not going down in a hurry either," he said.

"We've got a population of about 100,000 with four councils.

"You could argue we're over-governed."

A similar proposal had been mooted further up the mainland this week, with a local group campaigning for southern councils, from Waitaki to Selwyn, break away from the Canterbury Regional Council and amalgamate into a unitary council.

The structure of the country's local representation has been in place for more than 30 years,following the New Zealand local government reforms in 1989.

This involved 850 local bodies amalgamating into 86 local authorities, made up of regional and territorial levels.

"The world has changed quite a bit," Scott said.

"I think as a sector we need to take a look at ourselves and make sure that we are actually relevant to perform and deliver for our ratepayers."

The proposed governance overhaul in Southland would mean 20 councillors would be cut with two fewer mayors and chief executives.

Scott said the structure would "de-centralise" rather than centralise local authorities, by ensuring the retention of local voices with the continuation of community boards and river catchment committees.

"I'm a very big fan of the community board model and I can see that being enhanced."

Although the finer details were still being firmed up, Scott envisioned a further two community boards established for the Gore and Mataura areas respectively.

The mayor conceded his position "could be on the chopping block" as a result of the proposed restructure.

"We still need to service the community from a staffing level.

"You're also looking at the operational aspect of two Long Term Plans, rather than four.

"That's a very expensive, arduous process."

The proposal is expected to be tabled at a council meeting later this month.

'Timely conversation'

Southland Regional Council chairperson Nicol Horrell said the merger proposal was a "timely conversation" to be had.

"We've heard from our community through the Long-term Plan process that we need to be looking for efficiencies, and we're committed to that.

"I'm sure the Southland District mayor and councillors heard the same when they recently consulted on their own Long-term Plan and no doubt the council is facing difficult decisions around rate setting.

But Horrell was not convinced on initial reading that Scott's proposal would be the ultimate outcome.

"In my view, seeking efficiencies makes sense where similar services exist.

"I'm less certain that, at first read, the mayor's proposal is where we'll end up but let's work together as a region for the best Southland solution."

In a statement, Invercargill mayor Nobby Clark said he had discussed the proposal with Scott.

Clark said it was not appropriate to comment until the Gore District Council and Southland Regional Council have had time to consider it.

"I also need time to discuss the proposal with my elected colleagues and our chief executive.

"The decisions required are not to be taken without due consideration."

In a statement, Gore District Mayor Ben Bell said the council was "open to conversations about how local government can provide a more efficient service for Southland".

But he said amalgamation was just one option, and further investigation was needed.

"It is important that we hear from our people about what they want when proposing largescale service changes like this.

"I worry that the proposal, as announced, is factually incorrect, misleading and essentially selling struggling ratepayers hugs and rainbows."

Main image (RNZ/Ian Telfer)