2021 Media Releases

Susan Freeman-Greene’s keynote speech at the Infrastructure Commission’s Building Nations 2021 event – 17 November 2021 

When council buildings close, communities lose access to spaces to meet, socialise and access services, which can impact social and economic wellbeing.

Local Government New Zealand welcomes the establishment of a joint working group to resolve councils’ concerns with the Government’s three waters reform model.

With the big OE still out of reach for many of New Zealand’s twentysomethings, a new initiative is promising to give young city-dwellers a wholly different life experience – a rural one. Think Rural is the brainchild of LGNZ’s Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ), with funding from the Ministry of Social Development. The central idea is to attract young people from cities to rural areas where there is a wealth of jobs on offer – and give them a chance to experience a new way of life, packed with adventure, excitement and opportunity.

The fourth annual report on the activities of New Zealand’s environmental first responders and enforcement officers shows a trend toward stronger regulation by the Regional Sector and a larger, more-supported workforce operating in these critical roles.

LGNZ says the Government’s announcement that it will refine its three waters proposal in response to the sector’s loud and clear concerns is a good sign. But it is disappointing that the government has mandated the reforms.

Local Government New Zealand says today’s announcement of yet more planning reform is unlikely to fix the housing crisis without addressing how we sustainably fund infrastructure.

The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) is celebrating a successful year having placed over 1300 youth and Covid-displaced workers into sustainable employment in rural New Zealand as part of its Community Recovery Programme.

Local Government New Zealand says the Future for Local Government Panel’s interim report is a great start and can go further, including considering the role of central government. The next critical step is hearing from the sector.

LGNZ President Stuart Crosby is congratulating councils for the hard work put in over the past eight weeks providing feedback on the Government’s Three Waters Reform Proposal, saying this mahi has clearly identified five key areas that need work if the model is to deliver its goals.

Local Government New Zealand’s CouncilMark™ programme is giving Horowhenua District Council’s performance a tick of approval in its second independent assessment.

Our analysis of the government’s latest NLTP announcement finds public transport and active modes clear winners.

Conventional wisdom says when you have a tiger by its tail, the trick is not to let go or you risk being eaten alive.

Dr Mike Reid argues the case for strengthening – not weakening – the community voice ahead of local government reforms.

Local Government New Zealand’s (LGNZ) Regional Sector acknowledges the Government’s report on Overseer, saying moves to upgrade this vital nutrient management tool are welcome but must be managed carefully to avoid disrupting work already underway to improve freshwater quality.

LGNZ is calling on the Government to bolster the provisions for communities to have a stronger voice in the exposure draft of the Natural and Built Environments Bill if it wants to improve environmental outcomes and enable development within limits.

Local Government New Zealand’s (LGNZ) member councils have today passed seven remits to direct LGNZ’s policy advocacy. 

Councils have always served their communities well, but this year’s crop of winners for the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) EXCELLENCE Awards show just how transformative they can be.

It’s fantastic it is to be here, and feels a privilege we can do in the midst of the global Covid pandemic.

The 2022 Local Government New Zealand Conference will be held in Palmerston North on 21-23 July next year. Local Government New Zealand President Stuart Crosby says the conference brings together about 600 leaders from across New Zealand.

Auckland Council has been given a special honour at the 2021 Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) EXCELLENCE Awards this evening for its exceptional COVID-19 response.  

LGNZ President Stuart Crosby has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a support package for councils as part of three waters reform, as well as the precedent the deal creates for an ongoing partnership with the sector. He says the $2.

Councillors Moko Tepania and Rachel Smith might have whooped with joy when they won the bid to host this year’s national Young Elected Members (YEMs) hui in the Far North, but what they are most excited about is bringing young leaders together to learn about the local whenua and history.

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) has welcomed the Government’s latest Three Waters announcement as an important step in letting councils see how reform would affect their communities.

Community voice is critical to getting the Resource Management (RM) Reform right, says Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ).

The exceptional service that local councils provide across New Zealand is again demonstrated through the wide range and high standard of finalists in the 2021 Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) EXCELLENCE Awards.

A unique and relatively isolated community with the highest Māori population of any district in New Zealand has shown that improving outcomes for ratepayers under tough economic conditions is possible in their second CouncilMARK™ report.

LGNZ are praising the latest council to receive their second CouncilMARK™ report, saying that the Far North District Council’s approach to the programme shows the huge benefits that it can drive for councils, communities and ratepayers.

On behalf of LGNZ and the wider local government sector, LGNZ President Stuart Crosby wishes to share his condolences to the family of former LGNZ President and Dunedin City Mayor Dave Cull.

The Future for Local Government initiative must make the most of a historic opportunity to set communities up for success now and in the future, as it looks into the roles and responsibilities of councils amid a flurry of major policy reform, says Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ).

Local Government New Zealand welcomes the long overdue review of self-contained freedom camping rules announced by Tourism Minister Stuart Nash today.

Ruapehu District Council has become one of a handful of councils to receive a second CouncilMARK™ report, and have been lauded by the programme’s Independent Assessment Board for the way they have used the first report to drive improvement for ratepayers.

Local Government New Zealand has today presented to the Health Select Committee on the Water Services Bill, raising serious concerns about a flood of costs for ratepayers if councils are forced to take over failing private water supplies.

Local Government New Zealand welcomes today’s well-rounded housing announcement by the Government, saying it is a necessary intervention to cool our out of control housing market while longer term and more sustainable policy fixes are put in place.

Local Government New Zealand’s Regional Sector is welcoming a decision by the Government to allow for continued testing and deployment of improved intensive winter grazing practices, ahead of new regulations coming into effect next year.

Masterton district ratepayers should be pleased with the results of a second report into their council’s performance, says the chair of local government assessors CouncilMARK™, particularly in the critical areas of service delivery and asset management, and ratepayers are being encouraged to pick up the report to find out more about their council’s operations.

Over 170 scientists, researchers, local government elected members and officials gathered recently at the LGNZ Climate Change Adaptation Symposium. Discussions uncovered gaps in New Zealand’s adaptation policy and canvassed how the sector can find shared interim solutions while it awaits the Government’s impending resource management reform.

The third Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement (CME) Metrics report has been released, providing insight into one of New Zealand’s biggest regulatory systems, with year on year comparisons revealing an increase in the number of complaints both responded to and attended in person by regional council staff.

South Taranaki District Council has received their second CouncilMARK™ report, retaining their BBB rating and gaining praise for significant improvement in their council communications and clear vision since their first assessment in 2017.

Amid a challenging period for local councils, a new LGNZ survey has found that elected members’ experience of public service largely meets their expectations, but that frustration remains around restrictive legislation, a lack of funding and hot topics such as three waters and housing.

The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) is celebrating a significant milestone, having guided 500 mostly young and Covid-19 displaced workers into sustainable employment through its Community Recovery Programme.

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is delighted to see Minister of Local Government Nanaia Mahuta announce the introduction of an amendment bill which aims to bring equality to the creation of local Māori wards.

Local Government New Zealand’s (LGNZ) Regional Sector is welcoming the Government’s announcement today on public transport decarbonisation.

Waitaki District Council has received a very positive BBB rating in their first ever CouncilMARK™ assessment, earning praise for their long term thinking and saving for future infrastructure renewals, while receiving a range of recommendations to address challenges around the region’s changing population, demographics and economy.