Thomas Coughlan: NZ Herald political editor on the Government promising to abolish regional councils
November 24, 2025 • 5 mins
The Government's proposing to abolish regional councils, and replace them with boards made up of mayors from the region's city and district councils.
The proposals would deliver the most significant reforms to local Government since 1989.
NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says more details will be revealed later down the line.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thomas Coglan, The Herald's political edit is with us right now.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Hello, Thomas, had a good afternoon.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Regional councils are gone Burger.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Well there is. There is an announcement at five o'clock
this afternoon. I've actually have written a column about what
the government was looking at back in July. So if
if your readers want to google Thomas Coglan council merger
an amalgamation thing and read a really good article from.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
July algamation amalgamation thing.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Well, I can't say anything about about what the government
is planning. I really can't. They they've sworn me to
secret see, but I would I would go back and
read that column from July.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
I think, okay, they've got column thirteen minutes and then
they can tune into christ Bishop here on the show.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
We're doing a Black Friday sale, so pretty subscribe.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
They can ever listen to it. All right, Well, you
can't talk much about that, so never mind that. Will
move on. Then tell me about labor fluting with Winnie.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yes, this is really interesting. So obviously obviously labor Labor
wants to repeal the Regulatory Standards Act. And then last
week Winston Peters decided that he wanted to repeal it
as well. So Labor sort of teased teased mister Peters
today putting out a members bill saying, hey, look let's
just repeal it now. We've put our members bill in
the tin. And Winston obviously has the votes to join
(01:16):
with Labor, the Greens to party Mary to to make
that members bill law. Winston fired off a tweet he's
flying to Hanaway at the moment. I think he used
the inn air Wi Fi to file a tweet accusing
Labour of playing political games, saying that they hold their
coalition agreement which is for this term, and then obviously
at the twenty twenty six election they will campaign on
(01:36):
repealing the Regulatory Standards Act, which they would probably need
Labor support to do.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, but see they've just busted him playing his game,
haven't they, Because if he actually really wanted to repeal
the thing that he himself voted in, then he could
do it right now with their help, couldn't they.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
He could And you know this precedent for this, the
Greens of the exact same thing back in the twenty
seventeen to twenty twenty election. The Green said, look, we'll
vote for your walker jumping law and then National put
it in a member's bill to repeal the walker jumping
all after the past and the Greens actually said, hey,
look Winston, we said we're honor the coalition agreement and
vote for the law. We didn't say anything about voting
for repealing it, and they did both in the same parliament,
(02:12):
and then of course they used it.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
But he doesn't actually when he doesn't actually want to
unwind the law, he just wants to campaign on it.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah, I did you know. I think the events of
today would strongly suggest to your coact on man with
busted him.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Now what is going on with Chris Luxon and the
polling and the ongoing questions film me and what's happened today.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
It's an incredible, incredible sort of event. Today Christoph Luxon
was up in Auckland where he was asked about whether
he cared about the National MP's who are going to
lose their jobs on current polling UF an election we
held today. I've actually got the audio of what he
said in his response to it. You don't hold any
concerns for those MP's who on the current polling numbers
if an election was held today would most their jobs,
(02:49):
You're not worry for them? So pretty I mean pretty
staggering sort of response there, pretty kind of tell us.
I guess. I actually put that to Chris Bishop in
a press conference a little while ago, and here is
what he had to say. I'll think I think we've
dealt with all the ethemero related to these that are
you worried because be one of them.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
I've got a three point fifteen to talk about resource
management reforms, so we're better get to that. Hey, thank
you very much. You're wrong.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
So there's a lot so that annoys you. Here is
Chris Bishop leaving his own office. The press conference was
in his own office, so Chris Bishop had to actually
get up from the chair and leave his own office,
leaving the entire well half of the press gallery are
sitting around his table. So it's not a great look,
now I do. I've got a statement from the Prime Minister,
from the Prime Minister's spokesperson who said the Prime Minister
is answering a hypothecal question. He is confident all national
(03:40):
MP's will be returned at the next election. Our plan
to fix the basics and build the future as working
and we're confident of getting a strong result in twenty
twenty six. So it is possible that he that he misspoke,
even likely, but it is quite an incredible turn of events.
I think when there's all this leadership speculation swirling swirling
around Chris Bishop, of course they don't have your sort
of answers straight and question like that, you know, show
(04:01):
some empathy, you know, say the right thing, which is
you know, of course I'm concerned for these MP's and
you know what, we're going to fight hard, we're going
to win the election, and we're going to have an
even bigger caucus next week.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Character this is the problem with Chris Luxin and he's
not nimble right, and he doesn't figure out how to
say things properly because if he was to express empathy,
then he would be worried that it would be confirmation
of the fact that the thing might really happen. Right
what But today was actually an important day because today
was caucus where potentially, if Chris Luxeon had the kahones,
he could flush Chris Bush about did anything happen in caucus?
Speaker 2 (04:32):
It was this this is a recess week this week,
so so no caucus, so he needs lasday yeah, and
the next Tuesday is as the scrutiny week, so I'm
not sure what the carcuse rules are on whether they
actually are holding a caucus meeting at the scrutiny during
scrutiny week, so he does have a bit of time,
but of course that's not impossible to hold an extraordinary
(04:52):
caucus meeting if there is if there is no confidence
in Christopher Luxen. Now, of course it doesn't look like
there is an active coup underweight at the moment, but
I have to say after that, after that press conference,
that's probably one of the biggest food in mouth events
of Christopher Luckson's career, so it'll be interesting to see
whether that causes some in peace to get a bit
shaky cool.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Yay for the National Party. All right, Thomas, thanks very much,
appreciate it. Thomas Coglan, the Herald's political editor. For more
from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to news Talks.
It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
Thomas Coglan, The Herald's political edit is with us right now.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Hello, Thomas, had a good afternoon.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Regional councils are gone Burger.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Well there is. There is an announcement at five o'clock
this afternoon. I've actually have written a column about what
the government was looking at back in July. So if
if your readers want to google Thomas Coglan council merger
an amalgamation thing and read a really good article from.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
July algamation amalgamation thing.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Well, I can't say anything about about what the government
is planning. I really can't. They they've sworn me to
secret see, but I would I would go back and
read that column from July.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
I think, okay, they've got column thirteen minutes and then
they can tune into christ Bishop here on the show.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
We're doing a Black Friday sale, so pretty subscribe.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
They can ever listen to it. All right, Well, you
can't talk much about that, so never mind that. Will
move on. Then tell me about labor fluting with Winnie.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yes, this is really interesting. So obviously obviously labor Labor
wants to repeal the Regulatory Standards Act. And then last
week Winston Peters decided that he wanted to repeal it
as well. So Labor sort of teased teased mister Peters
today putting out a members bill saying, hey, look let's
just repeal it now. We've put our members bill in
the tin. And Winston obviously has the votes to join
(01:16):
with Labor, the Greens to party Mary to to make
that members bill law. Winston fired off a tweet he's
flying to Hanaway at the moment. I think he used
the inn air Wi Fi to file a tweet accusing
Labour of playing political games, saying that they hold their
coalition agreement which is for this term, and then obviously
at the twenty twenty six election they will campaign on
(01:36):
repealing the Regulatory Standards Act, which they would probably need
Labor support to do.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, but see they've just busted him playing his game,
haven't they, Because if he actually really wanted to repeal
the thing that he himself voted in, then he could
do it right now with their help, couldn't they.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
He could And you know this precedent for this, the
Greens of the exact same thing back in the twenty
seventeen to twenty twenty election. The Green said, look, we'll
vote for your walker jumping law and then National put
it in a member's bill to repeal the walker jumping
all after the past and the Greens actually said, hey,
look Winston, we said we're honor the coalition agreement and
vote for the law. We didn't say anything about voting
for repealing it, and they did both in the same parliament,
(02:12):
and then of course they used it.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
But he doesn't actually when he doesn't actually want to
unwind the law, he just wants to campaign on it.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah, I did you know. I think the events of
today would strongly suggest to your coact on man with
busted him.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Now what is going on with Chris Luxon and the
polling and the ongoing questions film me and what's happened today.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
It's an incredible, incredible sort of event. Today Christoph Luxon
was up in Auckland where he was asked about whether
he cared about the National MP's who are going to
lose their jobs on current polling UF an election we
held today. I've actually got the audio of what he
said in his response to it. You don't hold any
concerns for those MP's who on the current polling numbers
if an election was held today would most their jobs,
(02:49):
You're not worry for them? So pretty I mean pretty
staggering sort of response there, pretty kind of tell us.
I guess. I actually put that to Chris Bishop in
a press conference a little while ago, and here is
what he had to say. I'll think I think we've
dealt with all the ethemero related to these that are
you worried because be one of them.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
I've got a three point fifteen to talk about resource
management reforms, so we're better get to that. Hey, thank
you very much. You're wrong.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
So there's a lot so that annoys you. Here is
Chris Bishop leaving his own office. The press conference was
in his own office, so Chris Bishop had to actually
get up from the chair and leave his own office,
leaving the entire well half of the press gallery are
sitting around his table. So it's not a great look,
now I do. I've got a statement from the Prime Minister,
from the Prime Minister's spokesperson who said the Prime Minister
is answering a hypothecal question. He is confident all national
(03:40):
MP's will be returned at the next election. Our plan
to fix the basics and build the future as working
and we're confident of getting a strong result in twenty
twenty six. So it is possible that he that he misspoke,
even likely, but it is quite an incredible turn of events.
I think when there's all this leadership speculation swirling swirling
around Chris Bishop, of course they don't have your sort
of answers straight and question like that, you know, show
(04:01):
some empathy, you know, say the right thing, which is
you know, of course I'm concerned for these MP's and
you know what, we're going to fight hard, we're going
to win the election, and we're going to have an
even bigger caucus next week.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Character this is the problem with Chris Luxin and he's
not nimble right, and he doesn't figure out how to
say things properly because if he was to express empathy,
then he would be worried that it would be confirmation
of the fact that the thing might really happen. Right
what But today was actually an important day because today
was caucus where potentially, if Chris Luxeon had the kahones,
he could flush Chris Bush about did anything happen in caucus?
Speaker 2 (04:32):
It was this this is a recess week this week,
so so no caucus, so he needs lasday yeah, and
the next Tuesday is as the scrutiny week, so I'm
not sure what the carcuse rules are on whether they
actually are holding a caucus meeting at the scrutiny during
scrutiny week, so he does have a bit of time,
but of course that's not impossible to hold an extraordinary
(04:52):
caucus meeting if there is if there is no confidence
in Christopher Luxen. Now, of course it doesn't look like
there is an active coup underweight at the moment, but
I have to say after that, after that press conference,
that's probably one of the biggest food in mouth events
of Christopher Luckson's career, so it'll be interesting to see
whether that causes some in peace to get a bit
shaky cool.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Yay for the National Party. All right, Thomas, thanks very much,
appreciate it. Thomas Coglan, the Herald's political editor. For more
from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to news Talks.
It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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