Right to know – withholding information
Image: Birmingham City Council House. In our local government system, local authorities are served by two separate yet equally important groups: the elected councillors who...
Category : Local Democracy
Local Government in crisis
As we stare down another election this month, Paula Southgate warns that constant criticism and bad behaviour are undermining local government. Councils are under siege...
Wellington’s mayoral prospects
There was an old saying doing the rounds in Rome when the Cardinals gathered to elect a successor to Pope Francis: “He who enters the...
The case for a smaller government executive
Based on a speech David Seymour gave to the Tauranga Business Chamber last month where he floated an idea about how we could transform government...
Open letter to Minister Bishop
By Bernie Wanden, Horowhenua District Council Mayor. Last month (January 2025) I wrote a letter to newly-appointed Transport Minister Chris Bishop, congratulating him on his...
Local elections – let’s celebrate the positive
By Jean Drage. Reflecting on my contribution to LG magazine following the 2022 Local Elections, I am struck by my bleak analysis of the low...
How WLG City Council got captured by vested interests
By Bryce Edwards, Political Analyst in Residence, Director of the Democracy Project, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington. Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz). Wellington City has...
Investigation into council practices
The Ombudsman investigated eight councils to see whether they were following the right processes in their meetings and workshops and says it is in the...
The FPP or STV question rolls around again
This year most councils and communities again face the question of whether to use FPP or STV for the next triennial elections in 2025. Gavin...
Decisions looming on Representation Issues
While new requirements relating to the establishment of Maori wards and constituencies are still awaiting enactment in the Local Government Electoral Legislation Bill, Gavin Beattie,...