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Walking your dog in the city centre

From Saturday 7 November 2026, you can walk your dog in the city centre, but it must be on a lead and under control at all times. 

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Reforms

Simplifying Local Government Reform

Background

In November 2025, the Government proposed changes intended to simplify local government across New Zealand.

These included replacing regional councillors with a region’s mayors and requiring these mayors to develop plans for the more effective and efficient delivery of council services across a region.

Consultation resulted in more than 1,150 submissions, which generally agreed with the need for reform but raised issues with the specific proposal.

In May 2026 the Government refined its approach to Simplifying Local Government and announced:

  • A streamlined, voluntary Head Start pathway for councils willing and able to reorganise quickly, with outline proposals for new unitary authorities had to be submitted 9 August 2026 and detailed proposals due in March 2027.  In September the Government paused the process until after the 2026 General Election. 
  • Government officials will assess the outline proposals against clear criteria, including deliverability by the 2028 local elections, support for the new planning system, simplified governance, economies of scale and fair and effective local representation. 
  • Wider reform after the 2028 local elections for those regions that were not part of the Head Start pathway.  This is known as the Backstop pathway. Regional councillors will be replaced by an interim body until reforms are implemented.

Latest

  • On 24 September 2026 the Government announced it needed more time to consider the Head Start proposals, including our own Pathway Proposal.  The process has been paused until after the general election. 
  • Follow the Shaping Taranaki’s Future page to keep up to date. 

Page last updated: 10:51am Mon 12 October 2026

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