West Coast councils will, over the next two weeks, consider a coordinated regional approach to enter into the Government’s Head Start local government reform process.
The proposal, which will be considered across each of the councils meetings, seeks united support for the region to collectively participate in the next phase of the Government’s reform programme and continue working collaboratively on a locally led approach.
The Head Start pathway provides councils with the opportunity to work together to explore what future local government arrangements could look like for their region and how they may wish to progress that work over time.
To support this next phase of work, Ashley Stuart has been appointed as an independent Project Lead. Ashley is a Coaster, born and raised in Westport, and brings experience across local and central government. She has held central government policy roles and worked in multiple Ministers’ offices in Wellington. Her role will be to coordinate the regional process, support councils and partners through the Head Start pathway, and help ensure the West Coast’s proposal reflects local realities while meeting Government expectations.
Ashley Stuart, Project Lead said “This is about taking a proactive and collaborative approach as a region. The next stage is about listening to communities to help shape our future.”
Councils emphasised that no decisions have been made on any future structures or models, with the current focus centred on engagement, understanding community priorities and expectations, and exploring what future approaches could look like for the Coast. Councils' relationships with Poutini Ngāi Tahu will continue to be recognised through this process.
“The Coast is well placed to take a coordinated approach, with councils and iwi already working together to build a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing local government across the region”. Ashley said.
If supported by councils, the next stage of work will include establishing an engagement process to seek feedback from communities across Buller, Grey, and Westland districts over June. The work will be guided by previous evidence, community feedback, affordability, service delivery, local representation and protection of core regional functions.
Further information on engagement opportunities and timelines will be provided following council consideration of the proposal.