LGNZ releases election manifesto focusing on the need for strengthening New Zealand’s communities and economies
Today Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) has launched its election manifesto which outlines policy positions to seek
stronger communities and economic growth across all of New Zealand.
The LGNZ 2014 Manifesto highlights the strategic, legislative and regulatory issues where the sector believes
improvements can be made to enhance local leadership, create stronger communities and enable local government to deliver
to more effective and efficient services.
“The proposed measures are intended to grow LGNZ’s constructive relationship with central government and create a
legislative, regulatory and policy environment that enables councils to make a difference in their communities and local
economies,” LGNZ President Lawrence Yule says.
“Both central and local government must play their roles if we are to ensure New Zealand continues to have a robust
local democratic framework. We look forward to working closely with the incoming government.”
The seven strategic policy areas are:
1. Governance and performance
“LGNZ is committed to raising the standard of governance and performance of local government. We welcome Government
support for our programme of initiatives designed to lift the performance of the sector,” Mr Yule says.
2. Economic growth
“New Zealand’s economic growth strategy needs to consider the nation as a whole and the needs of its regions,” Mr Yule
says. “We need to find ways to make our regional centres attractive for investment and for skilled migrants to settle.
For this to occur, there needs to be a shared national strategy. LGNZ is alsoadvocating for the distribution of a share
of royalties from mineral, oil and gas extraction to the communities where it takes place.”
3. Sustainable funding
“LGNZ seeks that the incoming government consider carefully the findings of the LGNZ Local Government Funding Review,
which seeks to find a sustainable model for the future as demographic and economic factors continue to change ,” Mr Yule
says. “As part of this we anticipate the Government will pay rates on Crown land.”
4. Infrastructure
Good quality infrastructure requires a long term commitment built on effective asset management planning and ongoing
investment. “LGNZ asks that the incoming government ensure that the value of local and regional roads to the economic
well-being of New Zealand, and the sustainability of road funding for regions, is recognised in the overall allocation
of road and transport funding,” Mr Yule says. “We ask that it acknowledges local government’s leadership of strategy
concerning potable water, wastewater and stormwater assets and services, with decisions about ownership and management
belonging to communities. We seek to ensure that the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill reflects the
different risk profiles of buildings and regions, and takes into account social and economic impacts alongside life
safety.”
5. Regulation
“Both central and local government are fully committed to providing regulatory regimes that are effective and do not
impose unnecessary costs on communities, so we need a strong relationship with policy setters,” Mr Yule says. LGNZ seeks
that the incoming government implement the recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s report Towards Better Local
Regulations, particularly the development of a “partners in regulation” protocol and a forum to ensure both spheres of
government agree and understand intended regulatory outcomes. LGNZ asks that a joint central local government task force
be established to review the framework of statuses and regulations impacting on local authorities to remove unintended
consequences and unnecessary regulatory costs. It also seeks an alternative to the “joint and several” framework for
determining liability.
6. Environment
Local government is committed to finding the balance between protecting environmental values and amenities for future
generations while also developing local economies. “LGNZ seeks that the incoming government involve councils in the
development of policy and regulations as they affect resource management planning and the setting of priorities for
‘national direction’,” Mr Yules says. LGNZ asks the incoming government agree that locally elected representatives, in
consultation with citizens, should remain the primary decision-makers on plans and policies under the Resource
Management Act (RMA). LGNZ seeks that the “streamlining” introduced to allow for Special Housing Areas to other parts of
the RMA and ensure that future reforms of the RMA are practical, workable, have clear aims and minimise costs to
councils and citizens through speeding up planning and consenting without shifting liabilities to decision-makers.
7. Local democracy
“Local government is an important part of New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements providing both local services on
behalf of its communities and effective local democracy,” Mr Yule says. LGNZ seeks the incoming government implement the
recommendations of the Online Voting Working Party established by the Minister of Local Government and provide funding
to assist with the development of online voting and the promotion of triennial local authority elections.
*Ends*