 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||
Democracy and well-being
The Local Government Act 2002 (LGA 2002) states that the purpose of local government is to:
- enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and
- promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities, in the present and for the future.
The roles played by central government, by community organisations and by the private sector, as well as local authorities, all have significant impacts on overall well-being. Local authorities cannot do it all by themselves, but they can work with others to achieve these goals.
Goals and purposes
All in all, local government can:
- improve the local environment
- promote urban design
- provide and develop local open space and recreation facilities
- set strategic policy directions
- prepare annual plans, budgets, long-term council community plans, policies and plans under various Acts; e.g., transport, resource management
- act on behalf of other principals such as central government (e.g., as district liquor licensing agent, and distributing local grants)
- reflect diversity in the choices made by each local council on the roles it undertakes
- administer responsibilities under laws and regulations, e.g., building, food
- administer consents under local policies and plans
- regulate local nuisances such as animal and pest control
- fund roads, water, waste disposal, parks, rubbish collection, libraries and other services
- oversee the delivery of services
- provide an infrastructural and planning framework in which communities can grow and the economy can flourish
- coordinate with other agencies operating locally; e.g., Employment Service, Police
- assist businesses (local employment generation)
- promote cultural and sporting events
- promote local visitor and tourism events
- coordinate initiatives such as safer communities councils
- listen to and consult with communities
- develop and advance community viewpoints
- define and enforce appropriate rights within communities
- provide for effective participation.
Both now and in the future
LGA 2002 does not just instruct local authorities to be concerned with promoting the well-being of communities. It gives a particular way to do this. It recognises that well-being is holistic, with social, environmental, economic and cultural aspects. In addition, it asks councils to plan not just for present community needs but also 'take a long-term view' and look to the well-being of the community in the future.
How local bodies are governed
New Zealand’s Parliament has delegated authority to local government – and from time to time it has changed the powers it delegates. Sometimes Parliament has decided local government should do only core things, like manage the rubbish and the roads. At other times it has said that, if the community and their council want, they have broader powers to take on bigger challenges, such as local economic development.
The Act that currently enables local government, the Local Government Act 2002, emphasises the relationship between local government actions and the bigger picture – how communities work, how people connect with each other and the impacts of infrastructure decisions. The stated purpose of the Act is:
“… democratic and effective local government that recognises the diversity of New Zealand communities…”