Photo: suppliedThe Otago Regional Council has agreed local government must change but the new proposal will create unavoidable conflicts of interest and undermine the integrity of regional decision-making and democracy. The proposal would see a combined territories board replace the Otago Regional Council, which may also include a Crown commissioner. "[The council] is concerned that the combined territories model would create unavoidable conflicts of interest and undermine the integrity of regional decision-making and regional democracy. "[The council] considers that regional council governance functions should remain with those holding a regional mandate from the community or, as a fallback position, commissioners operating in a caretaker capacity." "For any combined territories to work effectively, members would require clear statutory expectations to act for the regional interest rather than their territorial constituencies.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 10, 2026 16:05 UTC