Localism now
A citizens’ jury in action
The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation VicHealth is a statutory authority in the Australian state of Victoria. Last year it used a citizens’ jury to investigate young adults’ mental wellbeing and work.
Its ‘Staying on Track’ process, which ran from May 28 to June 24, 2018,...
But what does that mean?
WHAT’S WRONG RIGHT NOW?
Central government’s getting a free lunch It passes duties and responsibilities to local government. Then gives it little or no extra funding to do all this extra stuff. Besides the ever-unpopular Resource Management Act (RMA), councils must contend with standards for constructing...
LGNZ has taken the unusual step of publicly criticising NZTA for delaying progress on some of the country’s most expensive housing markets. Singling out Tauranga, Queenstown and Hamilton as examples, LGNZ president Dave Cull has called on the government to ensure internal issues at NZTA are resolved soon.
“Ongoing corporate...
Legal framework unfit to cope with costs of sea level rise.
So much for the debate on whether climate change is real. Now we must decide how to pay for it. I am no expert on climate change but I have little time for the sceptics and there is no doubt that the time for action is upon us. At the end of January LGNZ, as part of its Climate...
Council relationships with China frequently get bogged down in controversy amid accusations that they fail to deliver tangible benefits to Kiwi communities. In the lead up to the New Zealand China Mayoral Forum in December, Ruth Le Pla looks at progress to date and better ways to build both relationships and business.
When Invercargill...
Dave Cull is LGNZ’s new president. The mayor of Dunedin talks with Ruth Le Pla about his background as handyman, TV presenter and author, and how he handles criticism of local government.
Local Government Magazine: Okay, let’s start with your background: political studies, furniture maker, carpenter, TV presenter, author of books...
Peter McKinlay announces a new resource to generate research and inform debate for the sector.
Hamilton City Council, Masterton and Waipa District Councils and Rotorua Lakes Council are leading the establishment of New Zealand’s first local government-backed think tank. The Local Government Think Tank (LGTT) aims to help New Zealand...
Lawrence Yule has steered the local government sector for the past nine years in his role as president of Local Government New Zealand. On the eve of his departure from the sector, Ruth Le Pla talked with him about local government’s changing role from perceived adversary to advocate and partner. She also asked a number of people about...
Local government forced to settle for small wins.
I was struck recently by a media release from LGNZ that began: “Letting local communities determine whether shops can open on Easter Sunday is a win for local decision-making.” It is not that the passing of the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill, allowing territorial authorities the...
Far North District Council acting CEO Colin Dale was awarded life membership of LGNZ at the organisation’s recent annual conference in Dunedin. He reflects here on Kiwi fair play, instant communities and unfinished business as he looks back on his six decades in the sector.
If there’s one unifying thread to Colin Dale’s 60 years...
