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Local government, local governance, local decision-making
- Central and local government
- Other local government organisations
- Local government entities
- The Local Government Commission
- Local government and the economy
- Other local government organisations
- Community boards
- Council-controlled organisations
Pleasure, mussel farming and fishing boats at anchor in Havelock Harbour
There are two types of local authority – regional councils and territorial authorities (cities or districts). These are autonomous and are accountable to the communities that they serve. They provide a vast range of services – from flood control to reserves management, rubbish collection to local tourism – funded largely by rates and regulated by a series of local government acts.
New Zealand has twelve regional councils. These are responsible for managing the broad-spectrum well-being of the entire region they cover. So they deal with concerns such as:
- management of the effects of use of fresh water, coastal waters and air
- biosecurity control of regional plant and animal pests
- river management, flood control and mitigation of erosion
- regional land transport planning and contracting of passenger services
- harbour navigation and safety, marine pollution and oil spills
- regional civil defence preparedness.
In addition, there are 74 territorial authorities, comprising 16 city councils and 58 district councils. They deal with day-to-day issues that contribute to the well-being of the people that live in their community, such as:
- community well-being and development
- environmental health and safety (including building control, civil defence, andenvironmental health matters)
- infrastructural services (roading and transport, sewerage, water/stormwater)
- recreation and culture
- resource management, including land-use planning and development control.
Four local authorities provide the functions of both a regional and a territorial authority, and are called unitary authorities: Nelson City Council and Gisborne, Tasman, and Marlborough District Councils.
Central and local government
Local councils communicate with central government agencies on behalf
of their communities to ensure that communities will be able to appropriately
identify well-being outcomes, and to build up realistic expectations
about what government can and should do to help. They also lobby central
government on behalf of their communities.
All central government agencies have opportunities to communicate government’s
roles and priorities in their relevant sector, to provide information they
may have about communities and their agencies’ activities, and raise
awareness of particular issues.
The Local Government Commission
The Local Government Commission (LGC) is required by the LGA 2002 to
report to the Minister of Local Government on key issues after the 2007
triennial local government elections.
LGC is required to review the operation of the LGA 2002 and the Local Electoral
Act 2001.
The review must at least determine and assess:
- 'the impact of conferring on local authorities’ full capacity, rights, powers and privileges, and
- the cost-effectiveness of consultation and planning procedures
- the impact of increasing participation in local government and improving representation on local authorities.'
The Commission comprises three members appointed by the Minister. It has the powers of a Commission of Inquiry.
Local government and the economy
It is estimated that in total local authorities may
•
be responsible for some 3.5% of gross domestic product
•
have an annual operating expenditure of some $3 billion
•
have an annual capital expenditure of some $800 million
•
employ some 40,000 people
•
have term assets of some $32.5 billion
•
had in 2003, 1152 elected members
Other local government organisations
Councils carry out their work through and in collaboration with a number of other organisations that they own or of which they are members.
Community boards
Community boards provide a level of local government below city and district councils. Community boards can be set up anywhere there is sufficient demand for them, if the territorial authority agrees. In 2003, 44 councils had community boards. The role of each board varies according to the delegation from council, but might include:
- representing the interests of its community
- considering and reporting on matters referred to it by council, or of interest or concern
- maintaining an overview of council services to the community
- preparing an annual submission to council for expenditure
- communicating with community organisations and special interest groups.
Council-controlled organisations
Council-controlled organisations (CCOs) can take a range of forms, including a company, a trust, or an unincorporated joint venture. CCOs can also be owned by more than one council.
For a directory listing of all local authorities and district health boards, see www.decisionmaker.co.nz/directories/citizenship2004/ or click the Directory for Citizenship Education link below.
