New leaders for Wellington Regional Leadership Committee

Greater Wellington Chair Daran Ponter and Ngāti Toa Rangatira Chief Executive Helmut Modlik will chair the Wellington Regional Leadership Committee (WRLC) for the 2025-28 triennium. While appointed as chair and deputy, the two will act as co-chairs.

The committee brings nine mayors from Horowhenua and the Wellington region together with iwi representatives and the regional council chair, to provide collective leadership and a coordinated approach to sustainable growth and development. 

Cr Ponter says, “the work of the committee has never been more important”, as councils and iwi prepare for resource management reform. 

“Through the Future Development Strategy, the committee has experience with regional spatial planning – a likely cornerstone of laws set to replace the Resource Management Act,” Cr Ponter says.

“While we consider how a spatial plan for the region is best delivered, it’s clear that we have already laid strong foundations for a plan that reflects Te Ao Māori as well as the aspirations of our councils and communities, while setting a collective direction for prioritising investment, sequencing development and safeguarding the environment.”

The current work programme of the WRLC includes a set of interconnected regional projects focused on accelerating housing development, climate adaptation, industrial land supply and economic growth.

Deputy Chair Helmut Modlik says the committee will continue to be a forum for local government and iwi to collaborate on challenges that extend beyond council borders. 

“Together, councils and iwi can better manage growth, infrastructure planning and climate change with a regional spatial plan that strengthens environmental stewardship by respecting Mana Whenua relationships with land and water,” Mr Modlik says.

“When Iwi values, priorities and boundaries are visible in spatial planning, it creates clearer pathways for partnership. That clarity supports a stronger Te Tiriti based approach to resource management, while improving the health of our environment and outcomes for the region.”

The WRLC will continue to oversee delivery of its work programme while commencing preparatory work on regional spatial planning.