(August 2026 - Outline proposal due to Government . This is not a final decision on structure)
6/10/2026:
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the West Coast councils' Head Start proposal.
We wanted to provide an update on the process following the Government's announcement on 6 October 2026.
The Government has advised that decisions on Head Start proposals and local government amalgamation have been deferred until early 2027. As a result, no decisions regarding the West Coast Head Start proposal will be made at this time.
As you may be aware, Grey District Council and Westland District Council jointly submitted a proposal to the Government in August under the Head Start pathway. While Buller District Council chose not to endorse the proposal following a tied vote, participation in Head Start is optional and Buller's decision does not affect the eligibility of the Grey and Westland proposal.
In the meantime, elected members from across the West Coast will continue discussions on opportunities to improve efficiency and collaboration between councils while awaiting further direction from the Government.
Further information is available on the engagement website: https://haveyoursay.westcoastcouncils.co.nz/engage
You can also read the Government's media release here: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-time-head-start-decisions
We appreciate your interest and involvement in this process and will continue to keep the community informed as further information becomes available.
Ngā mihi,
Thank you to everyone who contributed to Phase One of the West Coast Local Government Head Start Project. Your feedback has helped identify what matters most to our communities. This summary reflects feedback from 196 submissions and community drop-in sessions accross the Coast. View the key themes, priorities and perpectives shared, and how they will help inform the next stage of this important conversation. View by clicking here or access the the full report within the documents folder.
Reform is coming. The Coast needs a voice.
Councils have been given a choice:
For the West Coast, this is our opportunity to help shape what happens next.
Coast leaders want to know: what do you think would work best for the West Coast?
Potential scenarios
To help you understand the types of pathways that could be considered, the trade-offs involved, and the issues that would need to be tested in more detail. These are not final decisions. They are starting points for discussion.
Scenario A: One Council for the Coast, an amalgamated unitary authority.
| POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES | QUESTIONS TO TEST |
| Simplifies governance by creating one council for the coast. | How would local voice be protected across Buller, Grey, Westland and smaller communities? |
| Could improve regional planning, infrastructure coordination and service delivery alignment. | What local boards, community boards or local leadership arrangements would be needed? |
| May reduce duplication and provide a stronger collective voice to Central Government. | What would the financial and rating impacts be? |
| Could help protect and strengthen regional capability if designed well. | How would local services be maintained across a large geography? |
Scenario B: Grey-Westland unitary authority with separate Buller arrangement.
| POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES | QUESTION TO TEST |
| Could reflect some existing economic, transport, tourism and service connections between Grey and Westland. | How would regional functions be delivered across Buller? |
| Creates a larger structure than current district arrangements. | Would this fragment West Coast-wide planning and advocacy? |
| Could improve coordination across shared infrastructure and services in the central and southern Coast. | How would this model support emergency management, resilience and infrastructure coordination across the whole Coast? |
Scenario C: What alternative options or local voice arrangements are we missing?
We want to know whether communities can see other options, combinations or local goverance arrangements that should be explored further.
We want your feedback.
All feedback must be through this online engagement platform “Have your Say West Coast Councils” and selecting "Feedback here" icon above or collect paper feedback forms available at our following Council offices.
Feedback close at 5pm on Monday 06 July 2026.
Community engagement in the West Coast Head Start local government reform process remains strong, with 73% of feedback received to date supporting a unitary council for the Coast. More than 69 submissions and over 65 participants at community drop-in sessions have helped shape the discussion. Feedback continues to be welcomed as communities share their priorities, values, and aspirations for the future of local government on the West Coast.
Government annouces the Head Start pathway
West Coast community conversation: what is working, what could improve, and what matters most.
Submissions close
Outline proposal due to Government. This is not a final decision on structure.
Formal consultation and final decisions before any change is implimented.
