Hurunui Resident Survey Backs North Canterbury CouncilHurunui residents have given overwhelming support for a North Canterbury unitary council, following the council’s largest ever survey. The Hurunui District Council received 1162 responses, with 957 (84 percent) selecting a North Canterbury unitary council, with the Waimakariri and Kaikōura districts, as their preferred option. The Kaikōura District Council has already decided to draft a merger proposal with the Marlborough District Council, while Waimakariri’s preferred option is a North Canterbury council. While the North Canterbury option was the overwhelming favourite, residents also considered northeast South Island (with Kaikōura and Marlborough), north/central rural Canterbury, rural Canterbury and central South Island (with the West Coast) options. Councillors will meeting again on Thursday afternoon to consider their preferred Head Start option ahead of the Government’s deadline.