Over 550 delegates will attend the 2019 LGNZ Conference in Wellington this weekend, where a roadmap for restoring the balance between local and central government will be
unveiled.
Under the conference theme of ‘Riding the localism wave: Putting communities in charge’, delegates will hear speakers
from local government, business, social groups and community enterprises discuss the failings of our centralised
political system, why we need to change and how we can put power and decision-making back in the hands of our
communities.
Speakers include LGNZ president Dave Cull, Hon Dame Tariana Turia, Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Adrian Orr, Iron
Duke Partners Managing Director Phil O’Reilly, Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland, Dr Lance O’Sullivan,
and Wellington City Council Mayor Justin Lester. Central government politicians, including the Minister of Local
Government, will also speak at the conference to give their views on LGNZ’s localism blueprint.
“As we saw at our Localism Symposium earlier this year, there is wide-spread recognition from across almost all sectors
– be it business, iwi, or the wider public - that our diverse communities have outgrown one-size-fits-all policy
making,” says LGNZ President Dave Cull.
“It’s time to reform our system to let communities decide what’s best for them. The status quo, where all major
decisions are made in the Beehive, consigns communities to being bystanders in their own backyards and is holding us
back as a country.”
“The feedback we gained at the Localism Symposium, as well as from our members and the public over the last six months
has fed into our reinvigorating local democracy discussion paper, and we’re looking forward to releasing it on Sunday.”
Among the plenary sessions being held at the conference will be discussions on housing and building, climate change and fresh water, all issues of
deep concern for local communities.
“Our goal is to make New Zealand a more prosperous and dynamic place, that celebrates and capitalises on the unique
features of our diverse natural and social landscape. We have bold ambitions for local government, and conference will
be a chance to showcase ideas and discuss new initiatives to make this happen.”
“We recognise that the vision we’re putting forward will require councils to lift their game when it comes to
performance in order to meet the obligations that localism would place on them – and the message we’re sending to the
public and central government is that sector is up it.”
The LGNZ Conference will also feature the LGNZ EXCELLENCE Awards, on Monday 8 July, which recognise and celebrate
excellent performance by local councils to promote and grow the well-being of their communities.