News & Media

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a set of targeted tools to improve the quality of freshwater.

LGNZ welcomes the introduction of legislation this morning that will allow the Remuneration Authority to consider pay cuts for local government elected members, in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

LGNZ has welcomed Budget 2020, which allocated significant funding to a number of important initiatives from a local government perspective.  However many of the questions related to how the Government will kick start economic activity and address major challenges like climate change and housing affordability remain unanswered.

A proposal by the Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA) to lift the quantum of its debt covenants to provide more choices and capacity for member councils to raise more debt, should they choose to do so, is welcomed by LGNZ who say that it will give councils and ratepayers more options for boosting the economic recovery of their regions.

Greetings from LGNZThe COVID-19 crisis and ensuring lockdown has an created an unprecedented level of uncertainty over the last two months, and it seems that everywhere you look, change is afoot.

A new CouncilMARK™ report released today takes a deep dive into Whanganui District Council’s operations, finding an organisation with a clear strategy and sound service delivery, who are on a pathway to further improvement.

LGNZ says the Remuneration Authority should be left to set fair pay levels for local government elected members, and given the appropriate tools to do so to reflect the challenging economic circumstances imposed by the COVID-19 emergency.

LGNZ President Dave Cull is praising the swift reaction of local communities and councils to the COVID-19 epidemic, citing rapid, high-trust decision-making from elected members and council staff to ensure essential services are secured, and that our most vulnerable people are supported.

LGNZ President Dave Cull says that in light of the COVID-19 crisis, councils around New Zealand are reprioritising spending and minimising rates increases, but that a request from the Taxpayers’ Union to implement a 12-month rates freeze is misguided and has the potential to put the brakes on economic recovery.

LGNZ say a new report from the Deep South National Science Challenge is a reminder for central government policy makers to step up the pace on progressing a national strategy on climate change adaption.