The Commission was determined to assist both the Minister and communities in achieving more effective local government that supported the regions' goals.
"Since my appointment I have been thinking about how the Commission might carry out this role," Sir Wira said.
"The Minister's speech was consistent with the June announcements made by the Commission on the three re-organisation applications currently before us. These announcements clearly recognise that regions can face different challenges, and facing those challenges may require different approaches to change.
"As a result, in our work with local communities there will be a much more targeted approach to figuring out how local government in a region should respond to the challenges it faces. Together we will concentrate more on local government functions that matter most in supporting effective and dynamic communities and can help them realise their economic potential - water, transport, planning and regulation, and economic development.
"We are less interested in focusing on changes to representative structures, unless they are strongly supported by communities.
"Instead the focus will be on solutions and options that will deliver sustainable growth, better services, modern infrastructure, strong leadership, resilient communities, and sustained, locked-in change."
The range of possibilities could include different business structures or council-controlled organisations (CCOs), binding shared service arrangements, recalibrating roles and functions between regional councils and territorial authorities, or even, where local communities supported them, amalgamations.
The Minister had also mentioned the impact changes may have on the role of regional councils, which in some cases may no longer be required; in other cases they might take on more or fewer responsibilities.
"We will be working alongside councils and communities in developing options. And together we will be engaging communities in discussions about the options we have available to move forward. Local democratic participation in this process is vital," Sir Wira added.
He also noted that Ms Bennett had said she was prepared to legislate to achieve the best approach.
Region-wide amalgamations were "off the table" in Northland and Wellington, but many people in those communities had suggested alternatives, and others said they wanted changes to enable better local government.
"Local government has understood the messages being sent by their communities in these regions, and since the announcements there has been strong interest in working together to determine what steps need to be taken," he said.
"The Commission intends to support and encourage this progress in every way possible.
"For both the Northland and Wellington regions we want to build on the changes councils have already made to how they work and make decisions together, and share resources and expertise. We want to build on the momentum for change and knowledge gained through the processes to date.
"... We will look at the transport, water, spatial and land-use planning, and economic development functions, to better understand how they impact on the region. Together with councils, iwi and the community, we will work to identify what might need to change to create a stronger economy, modern infrastructure, resilient communities and improved services.
"If our joint investigations in either region indicate the best solutions can only be achieved through legislation, the Minister has said she will support this."
