Timaru District Mayor Nigel Bowen says it is disappointing that the Mid/South Canterbury and North Otago Head Start proposal has not been given the go-ahead this side of the election.

Today the Government said it needs more time before deciding which of the 18 Head Start local government reform proposals submitted in August will move to detailed design. Cabinet is now expected to consider them in early 2027.

"We engaged with this process in good faith and believe our plan offers a genuine opportunity for local communities to shape their own future and design a local government model that is more efficient, resilient and sustainable over the long term. It offers an opportunity to put local decision-making at the centre of reform rather than having change imposed through a later centralised process."

"Considerable work was undertaken by us and our partners to develop a practical, evidence-based proposal to address the challenges facing local government while improving outcomes for ratepayers."

Timaru developed the proposal with neighbouring councils, including Mackenzie, Waimate and Waitaki district councils, which have expressed similar sentiment today.

The joint proposal would create a single unitary authority from Ashburton to Waitaki. Reflecting the strong and overlapping communities across the central South Island, with shared river catchments, rural economies, primary production, infrastructure corridors and transport links.

Mayor Bowen said Timaru remains committed to the process.

"Reform of local government is widely recognised as necessary, and communities are best served when councils come together to actively shape that future rather than stand back from the conversation, and we look forward to progressing our plan further with whichever government is in place after the election."