'Holding Us Back': Candidates Take Aim At ECan

Tuesday, 2 September 2025, 4:35 pm
Article: Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter

Ashburton election candidates have come out swinging at the regional council, saying it's holding Canterbury back.

During a recent candidate event, attendees were asked regional councils were needed, or is time for just two tiers of Government.

What the mayoral candidates said

Russell Ellis suggested three tiers of government (district, regional and central) were one too many, but Environment Canterbury's function would still need to be paid even if it was axed.

“You'd still end up paying probably a similar amount of rates, but two layers of governance I think would then help reduce some of those costs.”

Rob Mackle said “ECan needs a shakeup”.

“There's too many people from in the city giving a lot of orders that are happening further out in the suburban area.

“But be careful what you wish for. That job still has to be done.

He didn't believe the district council had the capacity to take on Ecan's workload.

Liz McMillan believed Ashburton would eventually move into a unitary council.

“That could also mean that Ashburton combines with Timaru or Selwyn

“The Government will look at the layers of local government and will kind of direct us perhaps in that.”

Jeff Ryan said Ecan is “full of greenies”, who were not looking after Ashburton.

What the council candidates said

The Ashburton ward candidates held similar views.

Carolyn Cameron said she was aware of the frustration towards ECan in the community.

"There is a temptation to say no, we'll go on our own and we'll have a unitary council.

“That would be nirvana, I think, for the district.

“With regards to cost and how we would manage it, that I think that would be quite a complex process.”

Julie Moffett said it was “probably inevitable” the council in some-form would take over the roles of regional council, but it would need to be a managed transition.

Dolf van Amersfoort said when you have layer upon layer, you're just adding to the cost without necessarily improving the efficiency.

Tony Todd said it was debateable whether there would be a cost saving with combining the councils, because there'll be activities that continue.

For Phill Hooper, the big question was whether ECan cared about Mid Canterbury.

“I don't think they care about us.

“The biggest word that that comes to mind when I talk about ECan is frustration.”

Steph Poole said that describing the dynamic of having a district and regional council as “paying two sets of rates is maybe an oversimplification" of a much bigger issue”.

The question was also put to the Western Ward candidates.

Deb Gilkison said a local government overhaul could be an expensive exercise without the benefits to match and she would rather see improvements in ECan.

Jeanette Maxwell said until the Government’s RMA reform plays out, “we still need three tiers of Government, but we may not in the future”.

The two Eastern Ward candidates, that have won their seats unopposed, also weighed in.

Richard Wilson said at the moment ECan is not looking after the environment and our communities interests.

“It’s holding us back, rather than helping.”

Phill Everest said “we need someone to do that job, we don’t necessarily need Ecan”.

What did the ECan candidates think?

Two Environment Canterbury candidates, John Sunckell and Peter Trolove, were at the event.

Sunckell issued a warning around removing regional councils.

“Be careful what you do wish for. I do not want to be governed or managed from central government.”

His solution is for ECan is to “empower and enable our communities” and to sort out the consents.

“We have 27,000 consents in Canterbury. We probably need 5,000 consents and the other 20,000 can be permitted activities with really good compliance rolled around them”.

Peter Trolove didn’t address the regional council criticism but stated he offers “the other side an option”.

“Everybody here has told me they would rather have the most polluting farming in New Zealand, full of red zones, and have someone else pay rates to treat the water to make it potable so they can make a living at your expense.”

Ian Mackenzie was unable to attend the event but had a statement read out by Everest.

“ECan has ignored the interests and the aspirations of our district," McKenzie wrote.

“I believe our future will best be served by Christchurch moving to a unitary authority and that the rest of the region reforming a regional council.”

Helen Troy was an apology on the night.

ECan’s response

Canterbury Regional Council chairperson Craig Pauling said it was important for candidates to be discussing issues around the future of local government.

“I encourage councils from across the region to come together next term to continue this important kōrero.

“Our council has been having these discussions about what different governance models could look like for Canterbury ahead of resource management and local government reforms from central government.

The current form and functions aren't perfect, he said

"How local government is funded is also unsustainable. Therefore change is needed and we are up for that challenge.”

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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