Local government's big shakeup

The podcast "The Detail" discusses the New Zealand government's proposal to reform local government by replacing regional councillors with panels of local mayors. The aim is to streamline decision-making, reduce duplication, and improve efficiency. Glenn McConnell, a staff political reporter, explains the complexities of the current local government system, the motivations behind the reforms from different political parties, and potential challenges in implementation, including concerns about local representation and the workload for mayors. While the government argues this will lead to a more cost-effective system, the opposition raises concerns about broken promises of localism and potential power grabs. The reform's long-term impact and the final structure of local government remain uncertain, with changes expected to occur region by region over several years.