The Local Government Commission has decided to move into phase 2 of the investigation. For details of the decision, please click visit their website here.
The Commission has identified two potential options for local government in Southland for further investigation and modelling:
- One Southland-wide unitary council, supported by council-wide local boards
- Two unitary councils (an Invercargill unitary council and a Southland-Gore unitary council), each supported by council-wide local boards and a joint committee to oversee key regional functions
The Commission want to hear what matters most to the Southland community. They will be in Southland to talk with communities from 27July - 6 August 2026:
| Town
| Date
| Time
| Location
|
| Bluff
| Monday 27 July 2026
| 12.00pm - 1.30pm
| Bluff RSA, 44 Gore Street, Bluff
|
Te Anau
| Monday 27 July 2026
| 5.30pm - 7.00pm
| Fiordland Community House, 21 Luxmore Drive, Te Anau
|
| Lumsden
| Tuesday 28 July 2026
| 1:00pm-2:30pm
| Lumsden Memorial Hall, 8 Meadow St, Lumsden
|
| Gore
| Tuesday 28 July 2026
| 5:30pm-7:00pm
| Ōtamatea/Otamita room, James Cumming Community Centre, 29 Bowler Avenue, Gore
|
| Invercargill
| Wednesday 29 July 2026
| 1:00pm – 2:30pm
| Invercargill City Library, 50 Dee Street, Invercargill
|
| Invercargill
| Wednesday 29 July 2026
| 5:30pm – 7:00pm
| Invercargill City Library, 50 Dee Street, Invercargill
|
| Tokanui
| Thursday 30 July 2026
| 12pm – 1:30pm
| Tokanui Tavern, 18 McEwen St, Tokanui
|
| Tuatapere
| Monday 3 August 2026
| 5:30pm – 7:00pm
| Waiau Town and Country Club, 41 King Street, Tuatapere
|
| Otautau
| Tuesday 4 August 2026
| 12pm – 1:30pm
| Otautau Connect Centre, 13 Chester St, Otautau
|
| Riverton
| Tuesday 4 August 2026
| 5:30pm – 7:00pm
| Riverton RSA, 141 Palmerston Street, Riverton
|
| Edendale
| Wednesday 5 August 2026
| 12:00pm – 1:30pm
| Edendale Presbyterian Church, 30 Melvin St, Edendale
|
| Winton
| Wednesday 5 August 2026
| 5:30pm – 7:00pm
| Winton Memorial Hall, 2 Meldrum Street, Winton
|
| Stewart Island
| Thursday 6 August 2026
| 5:30pm – 7:00pm
| Community Centre, 10 Ayr Street, Stewart Island/Rakiura
|
The Local Government Commission’s investigation is continuing in parallel with the Government’s recently announced Head Start Pathway, which gives councils in a region three months to form into unitary councils.
The Commission has been investigating the potential for local government reorganisation of the four Southland councils since July 2025, in response to a formal request by the Southland District Council for change (a two-unitary-council structure).
Environment Southland supports the investigation and from the start has been keen for all reorganisation options to be on the table.
During Phase 1 of its investigation, the Commission undertook consultation with the councils, stakeholders and the community to better understand what is working well in local government in Southland and what is not.
The Local Government process differs from the Head Start Pathway, which has a preference for unitary councils and a much shorter timeframe.
