MEDIA RELEASE
Conference showcases local government to the Commonwealth

For immediate release on 26 March 2007

Commonwealth local government representatives, government ministers and officials have touched down in Auckland for the Commonwealth Local Government Conference (26-29 March).

Local Government New Zealand’s President, Basil Morrison, says the Conference is an historic first for New Zealand. “It is the first time that an international local government conference of its size and calibre has been held in the Asia Pacific Region and the first time New Zealand has hosted an international conference of local government practitioners drawn from all over the globe.”
The conference boasts some high profile speakers and several heads of state and government ministers, including:
 HE President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda
 Hon Edward Lowassa, Prime Minister of Tanzania
 Dr Tonio Borg, Deputy Prime Minister of Malta
 HE Rt Hon Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary-General
 Prof Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University and Director of the UN Millennium Project
 Ministers for local government from across the Commonwealth.
In the lead up to the Conference, 35 New Zealand councils have played a pivotal role in supporting and establishing good Commonwealth local government relations by hosting delegates from third world nations for ‘study visits’.

“The visits have given delegates from countries less fortunate than our own an excellent opportunity to gain understanding and knowledge of the way our New Zealand councils operate.

“Local Government New Zealand is a strong supporter of the sharing of knowledge at the international level. We are heavily involved in a number of projects through the Commonwealth Local Government Forum which support and foster local democracy in developing countries.

This Conference provides an opportunity to do this on a much larger scale as we all come together under one roof.”

The Conference will be officially opened at 5pm this afternoon by Prime Minister, Rt. Hon Helen Clark at the Aotea Centre, Auckland. For further information about the Conference visit www.clgc2007.org

ENDS

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