Jonathan Whittaker

Author's Posts

Public space programming – Why rebuild when you can reimagine? Communities

Public space programming – Why rebuild when you can reimagine?

Craig Pocock puts the case for testing tired urban spaces with public space programming to avoid the high carbon cost of urban renewal. As a designer, it is hard to admit that design is not always the best solution for a degraded public space. The process of design is rewarding both professionally and personally. As designers, we like...
Wellbeing – Why, how & what next? Governance

Wellbeing – Why, how & what next?

Ganesh Nana argues that an intergenerational wellbeing framework provides an opportunity for both arms of government to be aligned towards a common objective. Funding, however, remains the elephant in the room. He was speaking at the SOLGM Summit in Queenstown. Local government plays a critical role in terms of the range of policies and...
Increasing accessibility at heart of online voting trial Governance

Increasing accessibility at heart of online voting trial

By The Online Voting Working Party. Nine New Zealand councils are looking to modernise and futureproof New Zealand's local electoral system by trialling online voting in 2019, in addition to postal voting. The nine councils involved in the project (Auckland Council, Gisborne District Council, Hamilton City Council, Marlborough District...
No more lip service to localism  Communities

No more lip service to localism 

By Dave Cull, President, Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ). Communities need to see their decisions result in action. It was pleasing to see Central Hawkes’ Bay District Council get its Local Alcohol Policy over the line last month, giving effect to its community’s voice after a three-year battle and becoming the first council...
E-voting – Where are the benefits? Governance

E-voting – Where are the benefits?

You can’t kill the elephant in the room with a silver bullet, say academics Andy Asquith and Julienne Molineaux. Why people don’t vote When LGNZ conducted a survey following the 2016 elections it found: • Lack of interest 23.4 percent • Didn’t have enough information 32.6 percent • Too busy/other commitments 23.3...
Wellbeing – Will it be the great disruptor? Governance

Wellbeing – Will it be the great disruptor?

Deep change is coming to the local government sector, says public policy consultant, Peter McKinlay. The reintroduction of the four wellbeings presents an opportunity for local government to become the natural partner of central government in working with communities. Peter outlined his thoughts to a capacity crowd at the recent SOLGM...
Reckon you have a winning team? Management

Reckon you have a winning team?

Entries are now open for Kiwi council teams to register for next year’s Australasian Management Challenge. Teams can sign up anytime between November 1, 2018, and February 28, 2019, to take part in the New Zealand leg of the challenge. SOLGM strongly advises councils to get in early so they can get started on the initial pre-challenge...
Pressures on the littoral edge Legal

Pressures on the littoral edge

Esplanade reserve is not for boatyard business. The humble, local purpose (esplanade) reserve generally comes in for attention in relation to waterfront subdivisions. Occasionally, it will star in a Treaty of Waitangi-based dispute over public access. However, very often little attention is paid to its use, and it tends to be utilised...
Chasing ambulances – Under attack: what’s the best policy? Local Government 101

Chasing ambulances – Under attack: what’s the best policy?

As a tragic local government addict, I spend far too much time reading media articles and opinion pieces about councils around the country. These are sometimes generated by, or often reproduced, in social media. The pickings are rich. There are four general categories: • the council stuffed up; • a resident is upset about something...
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