Will the Minister release any cross-government or interdepartmental analysis of how the Simplifying Local Government, Local Water Done Well and resource management reform programmes interact; if not, why not?

Answer

The Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry for the Environment are working together closely to ensure that Simplifying Local Government is designed to support delivery of the new planning system—a key criteria for Head Start outline proposals. The Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025 provides mechanisms for councils to change how water services are delivered over time, including ownership and service arrangements. The Head Start pathway does not require councils to change their water service delivery models. However, where councils choose to consider changes as part of a Head Start proposal, water services legislation provides flexibility to do so.