Calls for clarity on cost of potential Canterbury council merger

Author: Jazlyn Whales,
Publish Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2026, 2:04pm

Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey has called on councils to provide clarity on what an amalgamated wider Canterbury council would cost ratepayers.

Councils have less than a month to put forward proposals for mergers – or face a potential Government-imposed arrangement.

Canterbury, with 11 councils spread across the region, is yet to reach an agreement.

Doocey said he had written to the mayors of Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn asking their councils to work together to create a rates model based on the proposed mergers of the three councils.

He said it was “heartening” that 10 Canterbury mayors agree that both council reform is needed and “the status quo is not an option”.

“However, I do believe it is important for ratepayers to understand the impacts of these council mergers and what this is likely to mean for their rates over the next 10 years,” he said.

“As the MP for Waimakariri that covers both Christchurch and Waimakariri councils, I certainly want my constituents to be able to make informed decisions.”

Across the three councils of Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn, residents already share many things, including roads, facilities and services like public transport.

Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey has called on Greater Christchurch councils to provide clarity on the cost to ratepayers if a council amalgamation were to happen. Photo / Mark Papalii, RNZ

Doocey said that while a Greater Christchurch Council is “inevitable” in the future, the process leading up to it is open for discussion.

He said he wanted ratepayers to be as informed as possible for them to provide feedback.

“Without knowing how much these options are going to impact individual rates, it is impossible for people to fully determine the best outcomes and therefore make an informed decision either way,” he said.

If the mayors responded that they believed the modelling would be best looked at by the Minister for Local Government, Doocey said he would be happy to raise it with the minister directly.