March 19, 2026
Selwyn Mayor Lydia Gliddon is leading a push for a refresh of the Greater Christchurch Partnership.
The partnership - a coalition of local government, mana whenua and government agencies - helps guide the long-term development of the wider-Christchurch urban area.
The partnership previously had a focus on earthquake recovery, but is now determining its new priorities.
Selwyn District councillors are expected to be briefed today [March 18) on the role of the partnership and what the council gains from the $100,000 annual membership.
Gliddon said the funding supports regional planning that crosses council boundaries, including work on the regional and Greater Christchurch spatial plans, transport and public transport initiatives, and working with central government agencies.
“We’ve been talking about reviewing the model for some time, but previous timelines suggested no real progress until mid-2027.
“I believe that’s too slow given the importance of the upcoming regional spatial plan.”
A spatial plan sets out how a town or district will look in the future, including what developments are required.
Gliddon said the Greater Christchurch Partnership committee acknowledge the development of the regional spatial plan is time‑critical and "existing arrangements are not moving quickly enough”.
At the latest meeting on March 6, members agreed with Gliddon's proposal to prepare a transition plan for its future structure.
“[It] will clearly identify the staff time and financial resources required, what work programmes could be paused, and how key metropolitan programmes will continue to be governed and delivered," Gliddon said.
Those programmes include how mass rapid transit and public transport will continue to be supported.
Councillors have also signalled that, in light of the Government’s focus on reducing duplication, participation in regional and inter‑agency committees would be reviewed periodically.
“The transitional planning work provides an opportunity to do that in a structured and transparent way.”
The plan will examine structural changes, including possible constitutional or agreement changes and whether other Canterbury councils should join the model.
The report is due at the committee’s next meeting on June 12.
Selwyn and the others member-council of the Greater Christchurch Partnership are also members of the Canterbury Mayoral forum.
The current members are: Selwyn, Waimakariri and Christchurch City councils, Environment Canterbury, Mana Whenua, NZ Transport Agency, Health NZ, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Kāinga Ora, and the Department of Internal Affairs.
Ashburton Mayor Liz McMillan was open to a discussion on the possible expansion of the Greater Christchurch Partnership.
"We value our relationships with our Canterbury neighbours, and we’re happy to be involved in any conversations around working together in the future."
Canterbury councils are already considering how they will work together in future under the government proposal to replace regional councils with a mayor-led board.
"We’re open to reviewing other cross-council committees, but for now we’re focused on the legislation in front of us and wait to see how these reforms and conversations shake down," McMillan said.
By Jonathan Leask
Selwyn Mayor Lydia Gliddon is leading a push for a refresh of the Greater Christchurch Partnership.
The partnership - a coalition of local government, mana whenua and government agencies - helps guide the long-term development of the wider-Christchurch urban area.
The partnership previously had a focus on earthquake recovery, but is now determining its new priorities.
Selwyn District councillors are expected to be briefed today [March 18) on the role of the partnership and what the council gains from the $100,000 annual membership.
Gliddon said the funding supports regional planning that crosses council boundaries, including work on the regional and Greater Christchurch spatial plans, transport and public transport initiatives, and working with central government agencies.
“We’ve been talking about reviewing the model for some time, but previous timelines suggested no real progress until mid-2027.
“I believe that’s too slow given the importance of the upcoming regional spatial plan.”
A spatial plan sets out how a town or district will look in the future, including what developments are required.
Gliddon said the Greater Christchurch Partnership committee acknowledge the development of the regional spatial plan is time‑critical and "existing arrangements are not moving quickly enough”.
At the latest meeting on March 6, members agreed with Gliddon's proposal to prepare a transition plan for its future structure.
“[It] will clearly identify the staff time and financial resources required, what work programmes could be paused, and how key metropolitan programmes will continue to be governed and delivered," Gliddon said.
Those programmes include how mass rapid transit and public transport will continue to be supported.
Councillors have also signalled that, in light of the Government’s focus on reducing duplication, participation in regional and inter‑agency committees would be reviewed periodically.
“The transitional planning work provides an opportunity to do that in a structured and transparent way.”
The plan will examine structural changes, including possible constitutional or agreement changes and whether other Canterbury councils should join the model.
The report is due at the committee’s next meeting on June 12.
Selwyn and the others member-council of the Greater Christchurch Partnership are also members of the Canterbury Mayoral forum.
The current members are: Selwyn, Waimakariri and Christchurch City councils, Environment Canterbury, Mana Whenua, NZ Transport Agency, Health NZ, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Kāinga Ora, and the Department of Internal Affairs.
Ashburton Mayor Liz McMillan was open to a discussion on the possible expansion of the Greater Christchurch Partnership.
"We value our relationships with our Canterbury neighbours, and we’re happy to be involved in any conversations around working together in the future."
Canterbury councils are already considering how they will work together in future under the government proposal to replace regional councils with a mayor-led board.
"We’re open to reviewing other cross-council committees, but for now we’re focused on the legislation in front of us and wait to see how these reforms and conversations shake down," McMillan said.
By Jonathan Leask
