Publications

#localismNZ: Bringing power to the people explains the rationale behind localism and responds to commonly heard objections. This essay explains how unusual New Zealand's centralism is when compared internationally. New Zealand's councils have limited fiscal autonomy.

Councils are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, which have bearing on the prosperity, vibrancy and long-term viability of our communities.

Councils are already experiencing the impacts of climate change and are beginning to recognise that communities’ resilience to climate change depends in large part on what is being done to adapt to it.

This report follows on from the discussion paper LGNZ released in July 2017 titled “Better economic development in local government”. It reports back on issues that were shared and discussed with LGNZ members and stakeholders during a workshop series led by LGNZ in early 2018.

This position paper encapsulates the sector's deep experience and evidence base to set out the key principles that local government, as owners and providers of the three waters infrastructure and services, see as critical and necessary in reforming the three waters regulatory framework.

LGNZ is re-designing government from a localist perspective.   Excessive centralisation leads to a ‘one size fits all’ approach, and can lead to bottlenecks in policy-making & implementation when empowered local government could just get on and get things done.

We are pleased to launch a stocktake of actions and strategies that councils across the country have adopted to contribute to emissions reductions.

LGNZ has recently undertaken work to develop a draft local government sector position on climate change mitigation.

Local government is calling for a shift in the way public decisions are made in New Zealand by seeking a commitment to localism.

LGNZ is building on our earlier 3 Waters work through Water 2050, a project that proposes and substantiates the premise for a new, integrated water policy framework. The framework has five components: allocation, water quality, infrastructure, cost and funding, and governance.