Government hits pause on council amalgamation plan until after election

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The Government has told mayors around the country it's deferring decisions on amalgamating councils until after the election.

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Local Government Minister Simon Watts said they would be taking additional time before deciding which proposals, part of the Head Start local government reform process , should progress to the detailed design stage.

Eighteen proposals were submitted in August against the Government's objectives for a simpler, more effective and accountable local government system.

"While the overall quality of proposals was high, none came with the unanimous view of the region, and some needed further analysis before they can progress. These are important gaps we must fill in prior to making final decisions," Watts said.