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...
Category : Local Democracy
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,...
Award-winning community portal
Ruapehu District Council’s award-winning digital portal is enabling collaboration and agreement on action points, funding and targeting of resources to improve community well-being and prosperity....
For the want of an informed vote
By Richard Prebble, former ACT Part leader and Labour Party member. We were told postal voting was the way to increase voter turnout. It was...
Don’t let the future run you over – you are there – now do something!
By Linda O’Reilly, Tompkins Wake. Welcome to all newly elected and re-elected mayors, chairs, councillors, local and community board members. I am by nature an...
Elections are over – let the triennium begin
By Mike Doesburg, a partner at Wynn Williams who acts for councils on a wide range of local government and environmental issues. The reality of...