Government announcement has put Head Start in limbo

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) says councils need greater certainty about next steps in the Head Start process than what the Government announced today, with councils having moved heaven and earth to meet an unrealistic deadline for proposals.

LGNZ President Rehette Stoltz said the Government’s inability to decide which proposals will progress has left councils feeling frustrated.

“Councils have invested significant effort in developing proposals and consulting their communities in what we’ve always said was an unrealistically tight time frame.”

“The Head Start process has really heaped pressure on councils facing once-in-a-generation resource management reform and potentially rates capping alongside delivering all the basics for their communities

“What happens next is now very unclear.

“Councils were put through a rushed process, only for the Government to now acknowledge that the work could not be completed properly in the time available. Communities will not tolerate ratepayer money being spent on unclear processes that are repeatedly reshaped after the work has been done. Before councils do more work, they need certainty the goal posts won’t be moved again.

“We’ve always said reform must be locally led, not driven from the Beehive."

Rehette Stoltz says this decision creates further uncertainty for communities and councils, including regional councils that needed clarity about their place in the wider reform programme.

“Regional councils deliver critical functions – and these must be front and centre in any structural reform.”

Rehette Stoltz says councils have a genuine appetite for change that is well considered and enduring, and the Government has recognised this.

“Change that will really deliver for communities needs a genuine partnership between local and central government. There’s an opportunity for the next government to work in partnership with us to deliver better outcomes.

“Local government reform is too important to be subject to a constantly changing process.”