Gavin Beattie of the Local Government Commission sets out important procedural matters for councils when considering feedback from their communities on their initial representation review proposals and in moving to final proposals.
Fifty-seven councils are required to review their representation arrangements prior to the 2019 local...
The benefits of an integrated approach for a multi-jurisdictional metropolitan area.
The Local Government Commission has been working with local authorities in the Wellington region on ways to collectively strengthen and support effective and resilient growth. Recent studies focused on how more integrated planning could help address the...
Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, Minister of Local Government, tells newly-elected members that a more coordinated framing of the local government / central government relationship is required. Councils need new ways to manage finances and improve efficiencies. And more needs to be done to meet current needs and prepare for future...
Around the world, many governments have favoured municipal amalgamation to improve efficiency of service and deliver cost benefits through economies of scale. But is bigger really better? Dr Colleen Rigby and David Robson look at the facts.
The concept of amalgamation is the voluntary or forced merger of multiple small local...
Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, Minister of Local Government
It is time for discussion and serious action on how to lift performance and serve diverse communities better and more efficiently.
Anyone connected to local government knows the vast scale of services the sector provides to support New Zealanders in their everyday lives. Local...
Last year was a busy time for the Local Government Commission as it worked its way through three major reorganisation applications.
If 2015 was a full year for the Local Government Commission, 2016 promises to be even busier, says Local Government Commission CE Sandra Preston. We are excited at the prospect, and look forward to hearing...
Les Munro was a war hero and an outstanding local government leader. Bill Conroy salutes a true gentleman.
John Leslie (Les) Munro, CNZM, DSO, QSO, DFC, French Legion of Honour, the last surviving dambuster pilot, died in Tauranga on August 4 this year aged 96. More than 600 people, including senior officers of the New Zealand...
On the fifth birthday of what has been described as New Zealand’s most radical local governance restructure – the creation of Auckland City, Vicki Jayne looks at what has so far been learnt from the process of creating Australasia’s biggest council.
If size were the primary criteria of success, there’s no doubt Auckland City is...
Sir Wira Gardiner has been appointed as chair and Leigh Auton as a member of the Local Government Commission.
They join commissioner Janie Annear, who has been reappointed. The appointments are for a three-year term, commencing August 1 this year.
Sir Wira has a long and distinguished public service career. He was a founding director...
