Current Councils

The Local Government Commission formed the current Christchurch City Council and Banks Peninsula District Council in 1989 following reorganisation.

Christchurch was formed from parts of Paparua and the Councils that covered Waimairi, Heathcote, Riccarton and Christchurch.

Banks Peninsula was formed when Lyttelton, Mt Herbert, Wairewa and Akaroa were merged.

What has happened so far
Early last year the Local Government Commission considered a petition from some Banks Peninsula residents and concluded that amalgamation with Christchurch City should be considered, because:

• The two areas shared a "community of interest" and
• Banks Peninsula District residents would benefit from an increase in the level and quality of local government services provided by a Council administering the combined area.

Submissions were called for in April. Two hundred and 40 were received and further submissions were made during the Commission's three-day hearing in June.

Christchurch City Council undertook its own consultation exercise and received 3716 responses to questions in a special April edition of Christchurch City Scene about amalgamation. Fifty-nine per cent of the respondents were against amalgamation, 34% in favour and 7% neutral. However, independent research commissioned by the Council leaned in favour of the proposal, with 33% in favour, 25% opposed and 41% of City residents neutral on the issue.

Taking account of public opinion and a range of issues to do with costs, the future governance of Christchurch and community of interest, the Christchurch Council made a submission to the Commission supporting amalgamation.

In December the LGC issued a reorganisation scheme for amalgamation. The decision now rests with polls of electors in both areas. The outcome of the polls will be binding.

The Commission's views
When it issued a reorganisation scheme, the Local Government Commission said provision of services by a single local authority would save administration costs of an estimated $379,000 in the first year, rising to $529,000 in the second and $560,000 in following years.

And with a modest increase in rates across a new Christchurch City, the new Council would have the resources to improve services in Banks Peninsula. These services include solid and liquid waste, maintenance of parks and reserves, property maintenance, leisure and community services, libraries and roading.

The increase in rates required for a typical Christchurch home has been estimated by the City Council at about 2%.

Under the scheme, the current wards of Christchurch City would continue as wards of the new City except Ferrymead, which would be merged with the Lyttelton-Mount Herbert ward of Banks Peninsula to form the Ferrymead-Lyttelton ward of the new City.

The peninsula's Akaroa and Wairewa wards would be combined for the new City.