29 July 2026Marlborough District Council agreed today to develop a joint Head Start outline proposal document with Kaikōura District Council, to inform its final decision next Thursday 6 August on whether or not to submit it to the Government. The approval follows discussions between the two councils and comes after Kaikōura District Council identified Marlborough as its preferred partner for a possible future amalgamation. Mayor Taylor said exploring the Head Start pathway allows Council to better understand the possible governance, financial, representation and service delivery impacts, before making any further decisions. The draft Head Start Outline Proposal document will be presented to Council next Thursday 6 August. Councils wishing to participate must submit an outline proposal in August, with any detailed proposal due in March 2027.