Southland's mayor is adamant every t will be crossed, and every i dotted, as it moves towards a restructure of the region's councils

Councillors have agreed to take the next steps to create two unitary councils from the current four - one around Invercargill, and another combining Southland and Gore.

It's estimated it could save the region at least 10-million dollars.

Mayor Rob Scott says it's the first structural decision in three decades.

He says setting it up to succeed means leaving no stone unturned, but also not leaving it too long.

Dunedin City Council is discussing a potential Otago unitary authority today.