Selwyn Mayor Lydia Gliddon says the district must be treated as one community as councils face a fast approaching deadline to put local government reform proposals to the Government.

Speaking to chrislynchmedia.com, Gliddon said the council was weighing its options ahead of the deadline.

“We are trying to work through a couple of things. We’ve got a mayoral forum this afternoon, and I think there are probably going to be some really interesting conversations there this week,” Gliddon said.

“Our preferred option, I think, at the moment, and our community told us this, is either go alone, so a unitary authority on our own, or look towards our neighbours for amalgamation.”

Gliddon said Ashburton was currently consulting on a possible proposal involving Selwyn.

“We might see the same from our side. We’ve got a public briefing on the 15th of July, which I think is actually going to be really good and give a clear direction on what this might mean for us.”

The Government’s Head Start process has given councils until August 9, 2026 to submit proposals for new unitary authorities.

Gliddon said any future structure had to respect Selwyn as a complete district.

“You can’t carve Selwyn up into two or three pieces. One, it goes against the guidance of the Head Start to not split the catchment in half, and two, we’re so connected that our rural space actually benefits our urban, and our urban benefits our rural.

“Severing off our rural community from our urban actually has a detrimental effect. Selwyn must be treated as a whole, and we’re open to conversations about what this looks like.”

She also ruled out springing surprises on other districts.

“I’m not into putting proposals in that affect our neighbours without their blessing.”

Asked whether Selwyn would reject any proposal that placed the district inside a Greater Christchurch council, Gliddon said the answer was not straightforward.

“If Christchurch wants to work with us, then it’s us as a whole, but we need to look at what this is, and what would a governance structure look like so that Selwyn can retain its identity and ring fence debt, so that we’re not having to cover off and pay for other things.

“There is so much to work through. It’s so complex, and it’s not quite as simple as what some people think.”

Gliddon said the reform debate was being framed too narrowly.

“This is actually not necessarily about amalgamation. This is about how we deliver functions, and I think that is the most important conversation we need to be having.

“How do we deliver these functions? What is the best way to do this that also doesn’t cost people more, because that’s something we hear really strongly, and how can we be efficient?”

Some responsibilities, she said, could not sit with any single council.

“A lot of that’s still going to have to be delivered at a regional level if we take rivers and flooding and catchments into play. I still believe that needs to be delivered at a regional level, via a joint committee or whatever that might look like, to get the integrated planning that you need.”

Gliddon also offered support to those affected by Saturday’s serious crash in Darfield involving a community rugby team van.

Emergency services were called to the intersection of Greendale Road and Clintons Road just before 6pm after a two vehicle crash involving members of the BDI Leeston Division 2 rugby team.

Several players were taken to hospital, with the club later confirming its team had made the tough decision to end its season.

“I think it’s really hard when you have multiple people injured. It really affects your community. We’re a close knit district, and lots of people are connected and know each other.

“My thoughts are with the family, the friends, the club, and everyone involved. The situation is not good.”

Gliddon wished the injured players a speedy recovery.

Gliddon also welcomed the permanent appointment of Steve Gibling as Selwyn District Council chief executive.

Gibling had been acting in the role since January, after Sharon Mason resigned, before being appointed permanently this month.

Gliddon said the decision gave the council stability at a time of upheaval.

“We’ve been in limbo for the past seven months with an interim chief executive, and what this actually means is continuity.

“For us, in a world that is changing all the time, we really wanted to try and give people as much continuity as possible.”

She said Gibling knew the district and its people well.

“Steve’s really connected to our people and our community, and he’s a good leader. He has the trust of our organisation, and that’s really important to us.”