Commission seeking Southland community views

The Local Government Commission is inviting Southlanders to share their views on local Government in the region. From 18 to 26 March, the Commission will hold community meetings across Southland as part of early engagement on local government reorganisation.

These community meetings are part of a wider programme that includes online public meetings and an online community survey. The engagement follows an application from Southland District Council for council reorganisation in the Southland region. The application triggered the statutory process the Commission is now following. 

In this first phase of public engagement, the Commission wants to hear from people across Southland about the issues and opportunities they see in local government. This feedback will help the Commission assess whether a different council structure could better support Southland’s needs now and into the future.

Local government in the Southland region is currently made up of four councils:

• Gore District Council
• Invercargill City Council
• Southland District Council
• Environment Southland (Southland Regional Council)

Community and online meeting schedule:

18 March, 6:30pm - 8:00pm, Tuatapere, Waiau Town & Country Club

19 March, 12:30-2:00pm, Riverton, Riverton RSA

19 March, 6:00-7:30pm, Bluff, Buff RSA

20 March, 10:30-11:30am, Stewart Island Rakiura, South Sea Hotel

20 March, 12:30-2:00pm, Stewart Island Rakiura, The Pavilion

23 March, 5:30-7:00pm, Gore, James Cumming Community Centre

24 March, 12:30-2:00pm, Mataura, Mataura Community Centre

24 March, 6:00-7:30pm, Tokanui, Tokanui Memorial Hall

25 March, 1:00-2:30pm, Invercargill, Invercargill Public Library

25 March, 6:00-7:30pm, Winton, RSA Hall

26 March, 12:30-2:00pm, Te Anau, Te Anau Library

26 March, 5:30-7:00pm, Lumsden, Lumsden Memorial Hall

30 March, 1:00–2:00pm, Online

31 March, 4:00–5:00pm, Online

Links to the survey and online meetings are available at: https://www.lgc.govt.nz/our-work/local-government-reorganisation/have-your-say-on-southlands-future/

Full details on the Commission’s process are available at: https://www.lgc.govt.nz/our-work/local-government-reorganisation/reorganisation-southland/

The process so far

July 2025:

The Commission agrees to undertake a reorganisation investigation following a request from Southland District Council. 

October 2025:

The Commission confirms the process it will follow to investigate possible changes to local government in Southland.

November 2025:

The Commission starts Phase 1 of its investigation, which is focused on scoping the issues and opportunities a reorganisation might address.

March 2026

The Commission starts Phase 1 community engagement.

What happens next?

• The Commission will collate and analyse feedback Phase 1 engagement. 
• The Commission will then decide whether to proceed to Phase 2, which involves investigating alternative council structures for Southland. 
• Phase 2 will include assessment of options for council structures, and further community engagement.
• At the end of Phase 2, the Commission will decide whether to move to Phase 3 and release a preferred council structure.
• Phase 3 will involve formal consultation with Southland communities on the preferred structure.
• There will be a binding poll of electors to decide whether the preferred council structure for Southland goes ahead.

Disclaimer: This information is supplied to support public understanding and does not promote any specific position or proposal.

Contact: EJ Ruthven, Local Government Commission, lgc@lgc.govt.nz