Kaunihera ā-motu
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National Council

The National Council acts as the governing body of LGNZ. Its role is to set and guide policies for LGNZ and ensure they are being achieved.

National Council members are elected from council/kaunihera member groups:

  • the seven geographical zones
  • the four sectors, metro, rural, regional and provincial
  • the Te Maruata and Young Elected Members sub-committees.

For the three-year electoral cycle that commenced following the 2022 Local Government Elections, membership of the National Council is as follows:

National Council

Audit and Risk Committee

Membership of our audit and risk committee (a committee of National Council) is as follows:

  • Giselle McLachlan, Independent Chair
  • Sam Broughton, President, LGNZ
  • Campbell Barry, Vice President, LGNZ
  • Alex Walker, Mayor, Central Hawke’s Bay
  • Rachel Keedwell, Chair Horizons
  • Moko Tauariki, Te Maruata, Hamilton City

Significance and engagement policy

Purpose of this policy

This policy sets out LGNZ’s general approach to engaging with members. It also specifies what a significant decision is, and places requirements on National Council when preparing to make these.

Engagement with members

National Council is elected by the membership of LGNZ. LGNZ’s Rules in turn empower National Council to make governance decisions. This includes setting strategic direction, which empowers staff to undertake their work.

Feedback from members informs both decision-making by National Council and operational work by staff.

The type and extent of engagement will reflect the nature of the issue concerned. The greater the impacts, interest of members, and role or influence of LGNZ, the greater the engagement will be undertaken.

Examples of types of engagement

Examples of types of engagement
Inform Our website
Social media
Emails and newsletters
Updates at zone and sector meetings
Consult Workshops (virtual and in-person)
Circulation of draft submissions or discussion papers for feedback and input
Discussions at zone and sector meetings
Working groups
Involve Use of participative democracy mechanisms
Remits at Conference
Constitutional amendments
Polling of membership

Engaging on significant decisions

Significant decisions are decisions with specific characteristics, including:

Entering into binding agreements with third parties that:

  • would have a material or perceived impact on the objects or powers of LGNZ; or
  • would restrict LGNZ’s ability to engage with or advocate on political decisions or reform; or
  • relate to decisions that would impact on major roles and functions of councils or the nature of local government in New Zealand.

If a decision is significant, then National Council must engage with members before making it.

This engagement would be via either:

  • a poll of all member councils; or
  • a remit, item of business, or rule change put to an AGM or SGM.

Note: changes to the Rules of LGNZ have an existing prescribed process set out in section K of the Rules.