The Government is proposing one of the biggest reform packages around local Government in decades.

Ministers are launching consultation on major proposals - including replacing regional councils with boards made up of mayors from the region's city and district councils. 

It would aim to streamline decision-making, planning and infrastructure across regions - and boards would prepare a regional reorganisation plan within two years of being set up.

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says it's time to re-examine local Government and make changes.

"It would be the biggest shake-up since 1989, but we think, given we're going to make these changes to the way in which we do things locally anyway, now's the time to basically do it all."

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