Opposition MPs aren't happy with the way the Christchurch regional council is set to be governed for the next three years.

Government oversight of Environment Canterbury is to continue until 2019 with Parliament voting in favour of a mixed governance model that will see the Government appoint up to six of its councillors, while seven will be elected in October.

Labour and the Greens have both argued against the proposal saying it undermines representative democracy for Canterbury ratepayers .

But the Government has had the numbers to pass the Bill, 63 votes to 58.

Green MP - and former ECan member - Eugenie Sage said this hybrid model isn't the answer.

"It will be incredibly hard for anyone who wants to stand, because if they get elected they'll be sitting at a table with there are potentially six other appointed commissioners who report to Wellington."

Ms Sage says it's been six years without democracy and the government hasn't coherently said why it needs to be another three.

New Zealand First MP Dennis O'Rourke said nine years is too long until a return to a fully elected regional council in Canterbury.

He said six years is actually easily long enough for the commissioners to have done the job they set out to do.

And Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove is challenging the Environment Minister to explain why he doesn't have confidence in the people of Canterbury to stand up and take charge of their own affairs.