News & Media

Strong, fit-for-purpose local government is the future for New ZealandKia ora koutou katoa, 

With major reforms in the pipeline across three waters, climate change and resource management our sector is facing systemic change at a fundamental level.

Ruapehu District Council has become one of a handful of councils to receive a second CouncilMARK™ report, and have been lauded by the programme’s Independent Assessment Board for the way they have used the first report to drive improvement for ratepayers.

Local Government New Zealand has today presented to the Health Select Committee on the Water Services Bill, raising serious concerns about a flood of costs for ratepayers if councils are forced to take over failing private water supplies.

Local Government New Zealand welcomes today’s well-rounded housing announcement by the Government, saying it is a necessary intervention to cool our out of control housing market while longer term and more sustainable policy fixes are put in place.

Local Government New Zealand’s Regional Sector is welcoming a decision by the Government to allow for continued testing and deployment of improved intensive winter grazing practices, ahead of new regulations coming into effect next year.

Masterton district ratepayers should be pleased with the results of a second report into their council’s performance, says the chair of local government assessors CouncilMARK™, particularly in the critical areas of service delivery and asset management, and ratepayers are being encouraged to pick up the report to find out more about their council’s operations.

Over 170 scientists, researchers, local government elected members and officials gathered recently at the LGNZ Climate Change Adaptation Symposium. Discussions uncovered gaps in New Zealand’s adaptation policy and canvassed how the sector can find shared interim solutions while it awaits the Government’s impending resource management reform.

The third Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement (CME) Metrics report has been released, providing insight into one of New Zealand’s biggest regulatory systems, with year on year comparisons revealing an increase in the number of complaints both responded to and attended in person by regional council staff.

South Taranaki District Council has received their second CouncilMARK™ report, retaining their BBB rating and gaining praise for significant improvement in their council communications and clear vision since their first assessment in 2017.

Amid a challenging period for local councils, a new LGNZ survey has found that elected members’ experience of public service largely meets their expectations, but that frustration remains around restrictive legislation, a lack of funding and hot topics such as three waters and housing.