Environment Tops Bay of Plenty Priorities in Local Government Reform Survey

Bay of Plenty communities have highlighted environmental protection, effective service delivery, and maintaining connected regional services as key priorities in any future local government reform.

A recent survey by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council gathered community views on aspects of the Government’s proposed local government reform programme that may not have been covered through city and district council engagement.

The feedback showed strong support for ensuring any future changes continue to deliver benefits across the wider region, with protecting and improving the environment ranked as the highest priority outcome.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chair Matemoana McDonald said the results reflected a clear community expectation that environmental outcomes remain central to future decision-making.

“Communities have told us that protecting and improving the environment must remain the top priority, regardless of what changes may occur to local government structures,” Chair McDonald said.

Survey participants ranked delivering services at the most effective level as the second-highest priority, followed by achieving value for money.

The survey also explored possible funding impacts of reform, including scenarios where structural changes could lead to some communities paying more for services they rely on.

More than half of respondents said councils should focus on keeping regional services connected to provide benefits across the entire Bay of Plenty region.

This was followed by keeping costs low for individual communities and sharing costs across the region.

“The message we heard was that people value regional services that work together across council boundaries and deliver benefits for the wider community,” Chair McDonald said.

The Regional Council said the feedback provides useful insight into how residents view regional functions and services, despite regional councils not being able to submit head-start proposals under the current reform process.

The council will continue working with territorial authorities to support understanding of regional functions as discussions around local government reform continue.

A total of 267 people took part in the survey, which was available online and at community events between 29 June and 12 July.