It is more perverse as we strongly identify with our regions through rugby, culture and in many other important ways. I am not suggesting the current regions are perfect or well run; the evidence shows otherwise. Local governance is not a managerial puzzle or structural inconvenience. The regions are the direct descendants of the original provinces, often closer to locals’ needs, iwi and hapū than Wellington can ever be. Pass authority from Wellington to cities and regions that understand their own environments better than someone elected in Auckland or an unelected official in the capital.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 09, 2026 17:12 UTC