RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says regional councils add layers of confusion, as he looks to scrap them

Consultation's open on the proposal which would see the councils abolished and replaced with boards made up of local Mayors.

Boards would be required to put plans in place around re-organising services and infrastructure - which will be checked over and ticked off for financial sustainability.

Chris Bishop says there's enormous levels of complexity which people don't understand.

He says in Wellington for example, the regional council runs the buses, but the city councils decide the road closures and where the bus stops are.