The Department of Internal Affairs

Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs

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Resource material › Our Policy Advice Areas › Local Government Policy



Overview

The Local Government Policy Group provides policy advice to Ministers on: You can find out how the legislation came into being at Local Government Act Review (Historical - 2001) and see the Government's decision-making process at Local Government Act Cabinet Papers (Historical - 2001).

Ue te Hīnatore - Local Government Branch works closely with other government departments that work with Local Government and provides all departments with strategic advice as required.

What is Local Government?

Few of the issues which government deal with are neatly contained within national boundaries. Some are global, a few are national, and many others are local. Either they affect only particular localities or they affect different localities differently, or the populations of different localities might legitimately have differing views on what ought to be done or how it should be done. All modern democracies divide the work of government between central government and some form of local, regional, or state government.

In New Zealand, there is central government and local government (involving both regional and territorial authorities).

Local Authorities

There are 78 local authorities representing all areas of New Zealand.
  • 11 Regional Councils
  • 12 City Councils (which are largely urban)
  • 54 District Councils
  • 1 Auckland Council (which amalgamated 8 former councils on 1 November 2010).
Auckland Council, as well as the city and district councils, are collectively referred to as "territorial authorities" - there are 67 in total.

Six of the territorial authorities, (including Auckland, 1 City and 4 District Councils), also have the powers of a regional council - these are sometimes referred to as “unitary authorities”.

New Zealand has more than 1,400 elected councillors and mayors, and nearly 23,000 local government employees.

Department of Internal Affairs' Roles in Local Government

Secretary for Local Government

Section 2B of the Local Government Act 1974 provides that the person for the time being holding the office of Secretary for Internal Affairs shall be the Secretary for Local Government. The Seventeenth Schedule to the Act lists several Acts under which functions, powers and duties are conferred or imposed on the Minister of Local Government and the Secretary for Local Government.

Note: The Local Government Act 2002 was given royal assent on 24 December 2002. It repeals the Local Government Act 1974.

Local Government Policy

The Local Government Policy team:
  • provides policy advice on local government, including the framework of local government, to the Minister of Local Government and to the Local Government and Environment Select Committee on local Bills
  • administers Acts and Regulations on behalf of the Minister of Local Government.
The Department also carries out a variety of services and has operational responsibilities with regard to local government. The Policy team: More about the Department's role in Local Government
See also: Local Councils website (decommissioned)

Current Projects

Crown Observer appointed to Wellington City Council

On 11 November 2024 the Minister of Local Government announced the appointment of Lindsay McKenzie as Crown Observer to the Wellington City Council.

Read the Minister’s press release on the Beehive website (11 November 2024)

Mr McKenzie has been appointed as Crown Observer to provide advice and guidance to the Council in order to support the delivery of the amended 2024-34 Long-Term Plan.

The role of the Crown Observer is to provide guidance and advice to elected Council members, collectively and individually, on matters of governance and financial strategy and planning.

The Crown Observer may also provide advice and guidance to the Council Chief Executive and senior management team on how best to support elected Council members.

The Crown Observer does not have a decision-making role and will not be involved in decision-making, other than offering guidance or advice. The decision-makers are the democratically elected Mayor and Councillors.

Mr McKenzie has been appointed as Crown Observer for a term of approximately nine months, starting on 13 November 2024 and finishing on 31 July 2025 or earlier if appropriate.

Read the terms of reference for the Crown Observer (PDF, 150KB)
Find out more about local government intervention (The Department's Role in Local Government)

Regional Deals

(Updated 8 November 2024)
Regional Deals is the Government’s initiative for delivering shared objectives and outcomes between local and central government. Deals will be long-term commitments, intended to endure, to promote economic growth and productivity, delivering connected and resilient infrastructure, and improving the supply of affordable, quality housing.

Appointment of a Crown Manager to the Wairoa District Council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

On 14 August 2024, pursuant to section 258D, and with reference to section 258P of the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act), the Minister of Local Government gave notice of his appointment of Lawrence Yule as Crown Manager of Wairoa District Council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

The role of the Crown Manager is to direct the Council to address any barriers to effective flood management of the Wairoa catchment. This includes facilitating the production of a medium-term flood management plan, actions arising from the reviews of the June 2024 severe weather event and relationship management regarding decisions on flood management.

The term for the Crown Manager appointment and the management period starts on 15 August 2024. The appointment and management period will, unless otherwise advised by the Minister of Local Government, end on 13 February 2026. The Minister of Local Government will undertake a review of the continued need for this appointment in May 2025.

The full terms of reference for this appointment for each council is available here:

Wairoa District Council:
Final Terms of Reference - Appointment of a Crown Manager to the Wairoa District Council (PDF, 186KB)

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council:
Final Terms of Reference - Appointment of a Crown Manager to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (PDF, 166KB)

Section 258O of the Act requires the Minister of Local Government to publish in the New Zealand Gazette a list of matters relevant to determining what action, if any, to take under subpart 1 of Part 10 of the Act, which relates to Ministerial powers of assistance and intervention in relation to local authorities.

Pursuant to Section 258P of the Act, the Minister of Local Government gave regard to this list of matters when making the decision to appoint a Crown Manager.

The list of matters was published in the New Zealand Gazette in June 2023 and is available here: Notice Regarding Ministerial Powers of Local Government Assistance and Intervention (NZ Gazette website)

Local Government Cyclone Response Unit

Updated 26 July 2023
This dedicated working group comprises senior leadership from DIA’s Local Government Branch, from the Taituarā — Local Government Professionals Aotearoa and Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ):

Tauranga City Council – Commission

(Updated 29 June 2022)

As required by Section 258U of the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act), the Tauranga City Council Commission has delivered its final report for the period February 2021 to April 2022 to the Minister of Local Government. In accordance with the provisions of the Act the report is publicly available at the link below: On 2 February 2021, Cabinet noted the Minister of Local Government’s intention to appoint a Commission to Tauranga City Council. The Minister has appointed Anne Tolley as Commission chairperson, and Bill Wasley, Stephen Selwood and Shadrach Rolleston as commissioners. The Commission’s term will commence in February 2021 and end on the day after the date elected members of the Council are declared, following the 2022 local authority triennial general elections.

The link to the gazette notice and proactive release of documents can be found here:

Termination of the Commission and postponement of the 2022 triennial general election

On 14 February 2022, the Minister has determined that the provisions of Part 10 of the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act) will continue to be met beyond October 2022. In order to facilitate the appointment of a Commission for a further term, the Minister gave notice that the current Commission was terminated with effect from 25 April 2022, in accordance with section 258X of the Act.

In accordance with section 258I of the Act, the Minister also gave notice that the next triennial general election at the Council, due to be held in October 2022, would be postponed.

On 22 April 2022, the Minister announced the appointment of a further Commission to the Council to perform and exercise its responsibilities, duties and powers. The Minister has reappointed Anne Tolley as Commission chairperson, and Bill Wasley, Stephen Selwood and Shadrach Rolleston as commissioners. The Commission’s term commenced on 26 April 2022 and end on the day after the date elected members of the Council are declared, following a general election in July 2024.

The link to the gazette notice and Terms of Reference can be found here: Termination of the Current Commission and Appointment of a Further Commission to the Tauranga City Council

Central government reforms impacting local government

(Updated October 2023)
Local government is facing a wave of reforms and reviews, including those related to three waters and resource management, with future reforms to come including climate change. The Future for Local Government Review is tasked with a future looking view at what local government does, how it does it and how it pays for it. Central government work programmes impacting local government are set out in the following A3:

Evaluation Report of Aotearoa Reorua programme

 (October 2024)
In July an independent evaluation provider completed an evaluation report of the Aotearoa Reorua - Bilingual Towns & Cities programme. Read the report: Evaluation Report of Aotearoa Reorua programme

Consultation on regulations for natural hazard information in LIMs

Consultation CLOSED Monday, 28 October 2024

The Department is consulting on an exposure draft of regulations for natural hazard information in land information memoranda (LIMs).

The regulations have been drafted to support local authorities implement changes to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act that are due to come into effect on 1 July 2025.

The regulations give direction both for territorial authorities, when sharing natural hazard information in a LIM, and regional councils, when sharing natural hazard information with territorial authorities. The regulations set requirements for:
  • any additional information to make natural hazard information more understandable and
  • how natural hazard information is summarised and presented.
The consultation document at the following link explains and seeks feedback on the proposed regulations. The exposure draft is attached at Appendix A of the document:

Consultation: Proposals for regulations for natural hazard information in LIMs (PDF, 1.6MB)

Consultation CLOSED 28 October 2024. Further information contact: communityresilience@dia.govt.nz

Community resilience

(Updated September 2024)
The Community Resilience programme partners with local government and other central government agencies to ensure policy levers, regulatory frameworks and tools support natural hazard risk reduction and climate change adaptation objectives. The primary focus of the work programme is currently on:
  • changes to the Land Information Memoranda (LIM) system to better communicate natural hazard information,
  • Input to the Government’s resource management and climate change reforms, and
  • Westport flood resilience.
Changes to the LIM system
The Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Act (the Act) was passed on 26 July 2023 but does not come into effect until 1 July 2025.

The Department is currently consulting on draft regulations to support the changes under new regulation making powers in the Act. Details on the consultation and how to submit are available here: Consultation on regulations for natural hazard information in LIMs

Westport flood resilience
On 12 May 2023 Government announced $22.9 million in funding to improve Westport’s resilience to future flooding. This is in response to a co-investment proposal from the Buller District Council, the West Coast Regional Council and te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae.

An independently chaired Steering Group has been established to take the work forward comprising key leaders from Buller District Council, West Coast Regional Council, te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae, the Department of Internal Affairs and the National Emergency Management Agency. The Community Resilience team will be supporting the Departmental input to the Steering Group to ensure the successful delivery of the proposal to strengthen Westport’s resilience to flooding.

Construction of the ‘stage one’ stopbanks around the Westport township is expected to start in September 2024.

More information about the Resilient Westport package of work is available here: Resilient Westport (website)

Cabinet papers and minutes:
Cabinet material on proposals for regulations for natural hazard information in land information memoranda - September 2024 (PDF, 2MB)
Cabinet paper and minute – Proposals for changes to the land information memorandum system – November 2021 (PDF, 903KB)
[Appendix B] Regulatory Impact Statement – Improving disclosure of natural hazard information in the land information memorandum system – November 2021 (PDF, 2.9MB)
Cabinet paper and minute – Report Back and Future Focus – April 2021 (PDF, 6.19MB)
Cabinet paper and minute – Improving resilience to flood risk and supporting the COVID-19 recovery – July 2020 (PDF, 1.5MB)
Cabinet paper and minute – Cross-government Community Resilience Work Programme: Update on progress – November 2019 (PDF, 3MB)
Supporting a Response to Natural Hazard risk-to-life in Matata – July 2019 (PDF, 1MB)
Facilitating adaptive responses for community resilience alongside local government – May 2019 (Proactive Releases)
Community Resilience in the face of natural hazards and climate change – December 2018 (PDF, 100KB)
Community Resilience (Minute) in the face of natural hazards and climate change – December 2018 (PDF, 120KB)

Reports and other documents:
Evaluation Report: Co-investment in Westport’s Resilience (September 2022) and an incorporated technical review (PDF, 1.7MB)
August 2022, Report: Vulnerable Communities Exposed to Flood Hazard (PDF, 1.3MB)
Review of vulnerable communities exposed to a flood hazard in New Zealand (PDF, 2MB)

Aronga - The Co-Governance Data Portal

Takiwā Data Analytics Platform enables you to connect people, locations, and your data. Work with smart, data-driven systems and intuitive analysis tools, delivering incredible results.

Infrastructure Funding and Financing

Along with Treasury and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Internal Affairs has been responsible for delivery of the Infrastructure Funding and Financing (IFF) work programme. Read more: Infrastructure Funding and Financing (August 2021) [

Reinstating the ability for polls on Māori wards

On 4 April 2024, the Government announced that it will reinstate the ability for communities to petition their councils for binding polls on the establishment of Māori wards and constituencies. This reverses the changes that were made in March 2021. Read more - updated 31 July 2024.

The Local Government (Rating of Whenua Māori) Amendment Act 2021

On 12 April 2021 the Local Government (Rating of Whenua Māori) Amendment Act was enacted. The Act makes changes to the rating of Māori land, looking to reduce the barriers for effective partnership between local government and Māori, encourage development and modernise the rating legislation.

Some of the changes are already in force, but the most substantive provisions do not come into force until 1 July 2021, giving councils time to review their internal systems and implement any new processes that may be needed.

To support councils, we have produced the guidance document ‘A council officers guide to implementing the Local Government (Rating of Whenua Māori) Amendment Act’ (PDF, 271KB), which provides a series of steps and actions council officers may need to take to implement the changes introduced by the Act. This guidance is not intended to be comprehensive. It aims to address the key matters in each step but does not go through every detail that may be required to implement particular provisions for each district.

To further clarify how the new provisions relating to separate rating areas impact the rating treatment of land subject to an occupation order under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, we have developed an additional guidance note on this topic to provide clarification for rating officers:
If after reading the guidance document you have any further questions, please contact councils@dia.govt.nz.

Guidance on Development Contributions Policies

 (updated January 2021)
The Department of Internal Affairs with input from the local government and development sectors has developed the Guide to developing and operating development contributions policies under the Local Government Act 2020 (.PDF, 4.9MB)

The purpose of this guide is to provide a technical resource for the preparation and operation of development contributions policies under the Local Government Act 2002. This guide is intended to be particularly helpful for smaller councils and officers new to development contributions. The guide includes resources, templates and forms, and a template Development Contributions Policy (.DOCX, 151KB) has also been developed for councils to use and adapt.

Waters Services Policy and Legislation (updated September 2024)

The Government announced a new direction for water services on 14 December 2023 (link to Beehive website).

Development Contribution Commissioners

Development Contribution Commissioners decide objections lodged against council’s decisions on development contributions. See our Register of Development Contribution Commissioners

If you would like to lodge an objection against your imposed development contributions, please see the development contributions policy of your relevant council.

For more background on this process see: Development contributions

Kaikōura long-term plan Order in Council (21 March 2018)

Following a period of consultation from 20 December 2018 to 15 January 2018, an Order in Council has been introduced to support the Kaikōura District Council following the 2016 North Canterbury earthquakes. The Order, made under the Hurunui/Kaikōura Earthquakes Recovery Act 2016, temporarily allows the Kaikōura District Council to have a customised three-year plan in place of the statutory 10 year long-term plan.

The Order can be found on the New Zealand legislation website.

The following submissions were received during consultation on the proposed order:

Reducing the risk and harm of dog attacks

See: 2016 Review of Dog Control Regime for information about the government's action plan to reduce the risk and harm of serious dog attacks.

Bylaw Review

Freedom camping - 2016/17 work programme

Situational analysis released

A joint working group (see September 2016 update) has completed a report into local harms from freedom camping and the implementation of the Freedom Camping Act 2011 by councils. The report is available for download below.
In response to the report the Minister of Local Government has approved a work programme to address the issues identified. A summary of the work programme and commonly asked questions are available for download below.

The freedom camping shared workspace and freedom camping guidance
(the Freedom Camping Hub)

As part of the 2016/17 work programme the Department developed an online shared workspace (the Freedom Camping Hub) for council officers. The primary purpose of the Freedom Camping Hub was to provide guidance for local authorities, by local authorities, on managing freedom camping. The Hub has been decommissioned. Guidance on freedom camping is provided by Local Government New Zealand and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

The freedom camping national regulatory dataset pilot

Queenstown Lakes District Council and Thames-Coromandel District Council are assisting with a pilot to data test data flows between councils, central government and public release. More information about the pilot is provided through the Freedom Camping Hub including the data standards and data aggregation process. The pilot will be completed in February 2016 - we will be contacting councils at this time about expanding the project.

Freedom camping social media campaign

The social media campaign is led by the Responsible Camping Forum. The campaign is targeted at visitors considered high-risk for displaying inappropriate camping behaviours. It targets where to camp and camping etiquette.

September 2016
A joint working group made up of central and local government officials is undertaking a review of bylaws as a local regulatory tool. The Review will identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of bylaws as a regulatory tool used by local government. A reference group of private sector, central government and local government participants has been assembled to provide feedback to the Review.

The Working Group will investigate the contribution of the following five areas to the regulatory performance of bylaw regimes:
  • Role clarity – the delegation of regulatory powers, roles and responsibilities to local government.
  • Regulatory design – bylaw drafting practices, the forms of bylaws.
  • Local authority bylaw stewardship – practices in reviewing, maintaining and administering bylaws.
  • Workforce capability – equipping the local government sector as a regulator to perform the delegated regulatory roles and responsibilities.
  • Monitoring and enforcement – achieving compliance efficiently. Including options to extend the enforcement powers available to councils and options to do so.
The Working Group will define good performance for bylaw regimes and develop criteria for assessing regulatory performance and make recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of bylaw regimes. Priority will be given to assessing of the efficiency and effectiveness of the freedom camping regulatory regime.

Consultation – Exposure draft of the Local Electoral (Online Voting Trial) Amendment Regulations 2019

A number of local authorities investigsted trialling an online voting option at the 2019 local elections for all or some of their electors.

The Department of Internal Affairs worked on a proposed regulatory framework to support an online voting trial, in the event it should proceed. The proposed framework prescribed the procedures, safeguards and outcomes that the operation of a voting method must achieve.

We have developed the Local Electoral (Online Voting Trial) Amendment Regulations 2019 as an exposure draft. This provided an opportunity for interested parties to provide feedback to improve the regulations before being finalised.

The regulations and the supporting information about the regulations and how they fit in with wider changes related to online voting at the 2019 local elections can be viewed here: Submissions CLOSED on 9 November 2018.

See also: Online voting for earlier information about the government's scoping of online voting for local authority elections.

Local Government Regulatory Systems

The Local Government Regulatory Systems project began in 2015 and aims improve and maintain the effectiveness and efficiency of the regulatory system. The local government sector helped to identify issues within the regulatory system that could be addressed as part of the project. Cabinet approved twelve amendments for development into a draft omnibus bill for consultation later in 2016. The twelve amendments are all of a minor and technical nature. View or download the Regulatory Impact Statement - Local Government Regulatory Systems Bill (Regulatory Impact Statements web page)

Rules Reduction Taskforce - the Government response (July 2016)

The Rules Reduction Taskforce was established in late 2014 to capture public concerns about frustrating, ineffective property rules and identify opportunities for addressing them.

Better Local Services

The Better Local Services package enables innovation and collaboration in local government to deliver better local services and infrastructure.

Response to the Productivity Commission’s report Towards Better Local Regulation

In May 2012, the Minister of Finance, the Minister for Regulatory Reform, and the Minister of Local Government requested that the Productivity Commission inquire into opportunities to improve regulatory performance in local government. This was to seek efficiency gains; address a lack of a consistency in what regulatory functions are best delivered nationally or locally; and respond to local government concern that councils are allocated functions without adequate mechanisms for funding. This work was commissioned as part of the Better Local Government programme.

The Productivity Commission’s report, Towards Better Local Regulation, was released in May 2013.

The Minister of Local Government, Hon Paula Bennett, and the Minister of Finance and for Regulatory Reform, Hon Bill English, announced on 22 July 2014 the Government’s response to the Report. The Minister of Local Government also announced the formation of a taskforce to review regulatory requirements. View the public questions and answers document below:

Appointment of Crown Manager for Christchurch City Council

In July 2013, Doug Martin was appointed as Crown Manager for the Christchurch City Council’s building consenting functions. The Council regained accreditation as a building consent authority in December 2014 and the Crown Manager’s appointment expired on 31 December 2014. Below is the Crown Managers’ final report, provided in March 2015, and the Crown Manager’s progress reports. These have been provided quarterly since the October 2013 report. The appointment was made under the provisions of the Local Government Act. The Cabinet Paper and Cabinet Minute related to this appointment:

Amendments to the Local Electoral Act 2001 and Local Electoral Regulations 2001


The Local Electoral Amendment Act 2013 changed the Local Electoral Act 2001 and the Local Electoral Regulations to improve provisions for the conduct of local elections and strengthen the integrity, transparency and efficiency of local electoral processes.

The changes provide greater transparency and accountability in local elections. The changes limit the size of anonymous donations that a recipient can keep, revise the definition of an anonymous donation, increase disclosure, reporting and recording obligations and introduce penalties for non-compliance.

The changes also cover the setting of ward boundaries, the information provided by candidates for local authority positions, the rules governing candidate nomination documentation, information about voting documents provided to electors and changes to streamline vote processing.
    Cabinet Paper - Amending the donation provisions In the Local Electoral Act 2001:
    (released November 2012) A copy of the Regulatory Impact Statement for the Local Electoral Amendment Bill No2 and the earlier Local Electoral Amendment Bill from 2011 can be found here: Local Electoral Amendment Bill - Regulatory Impact Statements

    See Minister's media releases (Beehive website): Proposed changes to local electoral law (12/9/2012); Local electoral law bill passes first reading (7/11/2012); Local Electoral Amendment Bill (No 2) passes second reading (21 March 2013); Changes to Local Electoral Bill to further improve transparency (27 March 2013).
    For more information on local elections please visit the Local Elections page.

    Local Government Mandatory Performance Measures

    In 2010, the Local Government Act 2002 was amended to require the Secretary for Local Government to make rules specifying non financial performance measures for local authorities to use when reporting to their communities. The aim was to help the public to contribute to discussions on future levels of service for their communities and to participate more easily in their local authority’s decision-making processes.

    The performance measures will do this through providing better information about the levels of service for five groups of activities carried out by local authorities – stormwater drainage, sewerage and the disposal of sewage, flood protection and control works, water supply, and the provision of footpaths and roads. Local authorities will be required to use a standard set of performance measures for these five activities when reporting to their communities.

    The Non-Financial Performance Measures Rules 2024

    Following public consultation the Non-Financial Performance Measures Rules 2024 have been finalised. These new Rules provide an update to Performance Measure 1 (safety of drinking water). These Rules will come into effect on 21 August 2024.

    The Department is currently developing revised guidance for this new performance measure, which will be published prior to the enactment of the new Rules. No further changes to performance measures for any other activity group have been made from the 2013 Rules.

    Public consultation on changes to the Rules for water supply – April 2024

    Under the Non-Financial Performance Measures Rules 2013, Performance measure 1 (safety of drinking water) referred to the Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand 2005. These standards were repealed in 2022 and replaced by a new regulatory regime under Taumata Arowai.

    To provide absolute clarity for councils on their reporting and planning requirements, the Secretary of Local Government initiated public consultation on a technical update of the performance measures for water supply.

    The scope of these proposed changes was limited to updating the regulatory references in Performance Measure 1 (safety of drinking water). The intention of the changes was to remove references to the revoked 2005 standards and replace them with the equivalent measures in the new regulatory framework.

    In accordance with section 261B(3) of the Local Government Act, a consultation period ran from 22 April 2024 to 10 May 2024. A report of the submissions made during consultation is provided below.

    Material incorporated by reference in the Non-Financial Performance Measures Rules 2024

    The Rules also include the following material incorporated by reference:

    Guidance for the implementation of the Local Government Mandatory Performance Measures

    The following guidance is available to help local authorities report on the measures.

    The guidance provides an initial focus for local authorities’ reporting, and is intended to provide the basis for local authorities to then add their own commentary.

    The measures are not intended to provide a means for central government to prescribe service standards for local authorities, but instead are intended to ensure that members of the public can compare the level of service provided by different councils. Therefore, although they require local authorities to measure particular things, they do not include any specified targets for local authority performance.

    It is for each local authority, in consultation with its ratepayers, to determine the level of service it intends to provide. The worked examples in the guidance are examples and local authorities are not required to report in this exact manner.

    Flood Control and Protection

    Roads and Footpaths

    Sewerage

    Stormwater

    Water

     Additional guidance has been developed for determining non-revenue water quantity for non-universally metered networks. The development of this guidance was led by the Institute of Public Works Engineers Australasia with the input of other industry experts and local authorities. This aspect of this guidance was developed separately after the importance of a robust measurement methodology for measuring water loss from a network was noted. This guidance is attached below.

    Public consultation on draft performance measures

    The Department of Internal Affairs developed a set of draft measures with input from the local government sector and expert groups and undertook a public consultation on the draft performance measures earlier this year. Summaries of the submissions received can be found below.

    Environment Canterbury Review

    Government has announced a mixed-model governance structure for Environment Canterbury (ECan) after the local government elections in October 2016. The mixed-model governance structure will have a mix of seven community elected councillors, and up to six Government-appointed councillors.

    Better Local Government
    • Better Local Government

      This is a local government programme which began in March 2012.

      The reforms are aimed at providing better clarity around the role of councils, stronger governance, improved efficiency and more responsible financial management.

    Kaipara District Council
      On 19 April 2017, the Associate Minister of Local Government, Hon Jacqui Dean, terminated the appointment of the Kaipara Crown Manager because of concerns that there may be technical flaws with the appointment and Terms of Reference. The termination was made pursuant to section 258X of the Local Government Act 2002. See the Minister’s media release Crown Manager to Kaipara District Council withdrawn (Beehive website) and notice on the Gazette website.

        Background:

        A review of Kaipara District Council’s performance by the government-appointed Kaipara Review Team in 2012 led to the Council requesting commissioners take over governance of the district. Appointing commissioners under the Local Government Act was also the review team’s central recommendation. The Minister of Local Government Rt Hon David Carter appointed commissioners in August 2012. View 2012 media release:         Kaipara council commissioners appointed (Beehive website) and read the notice of appointment and Terms of Reference (Gazette website).

        On 24 April 2015 Associate Minister of Local Government Hon Louise Upston announced that the Commissioners appointed to the Kaipara District Council in 2012 will be reappointed for a further year. And that the Council would hold an election in October 2016, at the same time as triennial general elections for all local authorities. See Hon Upston’s 2015 media release Kaipara District Council Commissioners Re-Appointed (Beehive website)

        On 31 May 2016, the Associate Minister of Local Government Hon Louise Upston announced that the Kaipara District Council would return to a fully-elected Council. The Associate Minister called an election of the Council, to be held on 8 October 2016. The Associate Minister also announced that she would be appointing a Crown Manager and Crown Observer to support the newly-elected Council. See Hon Louise Upston’s 2016 media release Kaipara to return to a fully-elected Council (Beehive website) and read the notice calling an election of the Council (Gazette website).

        On 7 July 2016, Peter Winder was appointed as Crown Manager by the Associate Local Government Minister to support the Kaipara District Council following the 8 October 2016 local elections when it returned to a fully-elected Council. For further information see Hon Louise Upston’s 2016 media release Crown Manager to support Kaipara District Council (Beehive website) and read the Crown Manager’s notice of appointment and Terms of Reference (Gazette website).

        On 11 October 2016, the Associate Minister of Local Government Hon Louise Upston announced the appointment of Barry Harris as the Crown Observer who would support the newly-elected Kaipara District Council settle into its new governance arrangement. Barry Harris' appointment commenced when elected Council members came into office and would continue until 30 September 2017. For more information, see the Minister’s media release Crown Observer to support the Kaipara District Council settle in (Beehive website) and notice of appointment and Terms of Reference (Gazette website)

        The Kaipara District Council Commission’s term expired on 15 October 2016. The Kaipara District Council Commission has provided the former Associate Minister of Local Government, Hon Louise Upston with a final report consistent with section 258U of the Local Government Act 2002. The final report is publicly available for download in full below. Also available is a letter to the Minister from John Robertson, Chair of the Kaipara Commission. Together these documents provide useful insights and considerations from the Kaipara experience.

        Further Kaipara Commission reports can be found on the Kaipara District Council’s website: http://www.kaipara.govt.nz

        Public safety around dogs
          The Department’s policy team provides advice about dog control and dog legislation to Ministers. Dog control legislation is enforced by local councils. The legislation gives Councils powers to respond to complaints and to enforce owner responsibilities and for the care and control of their dog(s).

          The Department has a public education programme for dog owners, parents and children. The programme includes a website and resources for schools: www.dogsafety.govt.nz

        Treaty of Waitangi Settlement Negotiations
          The Department assists the Office of Treaty Settlements in their work when it affects local government.

        Ongoing Projects

        Other legislative and policy projects we are working on include:

        Local Government Transparency, Accountability and Fiscal Management

        For backround information about the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill, including a Decisions Document and related Cabinet papers, see:

        Local Government accords between the Minister of Local Government and Iwi

        On 19 December 2009, the Crown signed a Deed of Settlement with Waikato-Tainui to settle its historical Treaty of Waitangi claims relating to the Waikato River. The overarching purpose of the settlement is to restore and protect the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River for future generations.

        As part of the settlement, on 18 June 2010, Waikato-Tainui and the Associate Minister of Local Government signed a Local Government Accord in relation to the Waikato River. The Local Government Accord sets out how Waikato-Tainui and the Minister of Local Government will establish and maintain a positive, co-operative and enduring relationship regarding local government matters that directly impact the healthy and wellbeing of the Waikato River. For further details of the Local Government Accord, please contact the Department of Internal Affairs on (04) 495 7200.

        A copy of the Waikato River Deed of Settlement signed between the Crown and Waikato-Tainui is on the website of the Office of Treaty Settlements.

        Auckland Governance

        On 1 November 2010 the Auckland Council replaced the Auckland Regional Council, Auckland City Council, Manukau City Council, North Shore City Council, Papakura District Council, Rodney District Council, Waitakere City Council and Franklin District Council as the unitary authority for the Auckland District.

        On 29 March 2012 the Auckland Spatial Plan was adopted by Auckland Council. This sets out the strategy for Auckland's development over the next thirty years. It is viewed by Government as a key way to develop an integrated approach to managing Auckland’s growth, meeting central government objectives and avoiding duplication of effort across local and central government. Government agencies continue to work with Auckland Council as the Auckland Spatial Plan moves into implementation. The plan can be found here:
        Background infromation to the Auckland governance reforms can be found here:
        • Monitoring and evaluating the Auckland governance reforms
          The following two reports provide a framework for stakeholders to undertake ongoing evaluation and monitoring of the Auckland governance reform process and its outcomes. They were developed by the Department of Internal Affairs and Martin, Jenkins and Associates in 2010.


        Further Information

        More information about the Local Government portfolio and its issues: