Jonathan Whittaker

Author's Posts

Smart solutions Cityscapes Special Feature

Smart solutions Cityscapes

LGNZ launched a major new localism initiative at its annual conference in July. Patricia Moore asked four specialists what a more localist approach could mean for our country’s cityscapes. Flying the Flag When it comes to visual promotion for local businesses, organisations and events – an important aspect of localism – it...
One-stop-shop for property information Technology

One-stop-shop for property information

Shifting property information records online has been a long, and sometimes complicated, process for Taupo District Council. Lorraine Wade talked to delegates at the ALGIM Autumn Conference through a project that has been at least 13 years in the making. For council customers, the need for online access to property information was...
Water reform – The three big-picture issues on the table 3 Waters

Water reform – The three big-picture issues on the table

Water New Zealand has just finished a series of workshops around the country discussing the big questions the government is facing over its plans to reform the way drinking, waste and stormwater is managed. CEO John Pfahlert outlines the pros and cons around the options. At the Local Government New Zealand Conference in July, officials...
Infrastructure: the state of play – One man’s view Infrastructure

Infrastructure: the state of play – One man’s view

Lawyer Adam Feeley is well known for his staunch views and career spanning the Serious Fraud Office, Queenstown Lakes District Council and, now, independent advisory firm Rationale. He pulled no punches at the IPWEA NZ Conference in his reality check on the state of play of local government infrastructure. Adam Feeley is principal...
Sam Johnson – Looking for local heroes Communities

Sam Johnson – Looking for local heroes

Sam Johnson was the driving force behind the Student Volunteer Army during the Christchurch earthquakes. Back in town to launch the Community Guardians Project at this year’s LGNZ conference, he called on councils to play their part in a scheme that shifts control away from institutions and hands decision-making and actions back to...
Consultation documents: Better but still room for improvement Communities

Consultation documents: Better but still room for improvement

The Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) has singled out four councils’ consultation documents as good examples for others to follow. In its recent report, Long-term plans: Our audits of councils’ consultation documents, the OAG encouraged all councils to consider the examples from Hauraki, Waimate, Horowhenua and Gisborne district...
Climate risk & materiality – Linda O'Reilly, Brookfields Legal

Climate risk & materiality – Linda O'Reilly, Brookfields

Salvation may demand disclosure but disclosure can be risky. Over the past five or six years, there has been increased focus on disclosure by corporations of their risk of exposure to climate change. It is now a commonly-held view that, where there is an obligation to report on strategies and prospects of future financial years,...
Smart solutions – Contaminated land Special Feature

Smart solutions – Contaminated land

Urban growth is putting pressure on councils to clean up contaminated land. Current regulations are not quite tailored for the job and can be open to interpretation. So, is it time for a nationally-led more consistent approach? Patricia Moore has been digging the dirt. Our country has an estimated 20,000 contaminated land sites....
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