Defending local democracy
The Buller District Council’s submission on the Simplifying Local Government reform proposal exemplifies why a central government ‘one-solution-to-fit-them-all’ won’t work. Buller District Council Mayor Chris...
Category : Trending
Local Water Done Well or not?
If you think you understand water treatment, think again, says Iain Rabbitts, who has over 25 years’ experience in the water services industry. In principle,...
Zoning out amenity
Mike Doesburg, a partner at Wynn Williams, asks: what will land use plans look like in a system deliberately blind to visual amenity? The topic...
On the subject of reform
It’s clear that local government has reached a turning point. Reform is no longer theoretical, it’s happening, and in many respects it’s long overdue, writes...
A lesson in hazard landscapes
Photo: NZ Defence Force. Cyclone Gabrielle left more than physical devastation in its wake. It also prompted difficult legal questions about risk, responsibility and the...
A relentless burden of change
Linda O’Reilly, Special Counsel at Tompkins Wake, spent much of the Christmas/New Year break doomscrolling and weather watching and came up with this perspective on...
Weaving a new leadership
In times of rapid change, leadership that is built on consistency, humility and courage is required, writes Vaughan Payne, the director of Kahu Manawa, a...
Regional Governance – asking the right questions
By Dr Deon Swiggs Chair, Environment Canterbury & LGNZ Regional Sector. Regional governance is the capability to plan, fund, and deliver decisions and services that...
Levelling the playing field …at last
More rigorous standards and expectations are imposed on public sector education providers, in line with those that have been demanded from private sector providers …...
Realities of water reform
Will the water reforms fix council metrics, or simply shift the pressure, asks David Hammond, the Head of Consulting and Public Sectors at Tribe Executive....