Local government reform proposal and CBD parking changes on Council agenda

NPDC’s Mayor and Councillors will consider proposed changes to New Plymouth CBD parking and a  joint proposal from NPDC and Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) on the future of local government in Taranaki at its Council meeting on 6 August.

The two councils have developed a Pathfinder proposal as a constructive way to participate in the Government’s voluntary Head Start reform process and next week elected members are being asked to approve that proposal for submission by 9 August.

They will also consider a proposed budget and work programme through to March 2027.

Five possible council structures were assessed against the Government’s Head Start criteria and additional local criteria. Functional, financial and Treaty settlement assessments were also completed for each. 

Feedback from an initial community survey and a workshop with elected members and iwi representatives also helped shape the shortlist of three council structures, each of which includes local or community boards to help keep a strong local voice.

The shortlist is: 

• a Single Unitary Authority,
• a Combined Authority with separate northern and southern councils and
• two Sub-Regional Councils (e.g. northern and southern) with a joint committee governing regional-scale functions.

The reports states NPDC and TRC are committed to “doing the work properly, taking our community and iwi partners on the journey through meaningful engagement, and ensuring any final proposal is built on a robust foundation of evidence and understanding”. 

The Pathfinder proposal would enable time for more detailed analysis and testing of the opportunities, implications and risks of each model as well as time and space for meaningful and well-informed engagement with communities, iwi and stakeholders.

The report notes the risk that Government may not accept the Pathfinder Proposal on the basis it does not meet some of the Head Start pathway requirements but that risk of not submitting a Pathfinder Proposal include losing the opportunity to influence Government decisions on reform in the region and not advocating for New Plymouth’s interests.

Parking in New Plymouth’s Central Business District

At the same meeting, elected members will consider a package of proposed changes to parking in New Plymouth's central business district, including extending free parking for SuperGold card holders to two hours per session a day.

Recommendations also include updates to mobility parks, loading zones, motorhome parking and time-restricted spaces. The proposals have been informed by stakeholder and public feedback with more than 770 submissions received earlier this year.

However, decisions on parking charges and the mix of parking options in the Downtown Car Park are likely to be considered through next year's Long-Term Plan process, to allow these to be assessed alongside other financial priorities.

Other items include:

• Consideration of the draft Resilience, Energy and Climate Action Plan to go out for public consultation.
• Leases at Tūparikino Hub.
• Changes to the Going for Growth Committee's Terms of Reference which gives it delegation to make decisions on community funding applications.
• Statements of Intent from NPDC's Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) for 2026/27.

Read the full agenda.

The meeting will be held on Thursday 6 August from 10am in the Council Chambers and will be livestreamed.  Go to our website or the agendas, minutes and to watch.