Future for Local Government Reforms
Please note that this information was provided for the 2022 Local Government Elections and may now be out of date.
There is a significant regime of reform underway at central government level. One of these programmes is a review into the Future for Local Government.
The Future for Local Government review was initiated in response to calls from the local government sector to look at how local government will be affected in the wake of significant central government policy reform across three waters, resource management, climate change and the health and education systems.
The review is being undertaken by an independent panel, and provides an opportunity to further the purpose of local government. It has the potential to make major changes to the system that local government operates in, including how decisions are made and by whom, what local government does and how it does it, and who local government needs to work with to enable community wellbeing.
This review has a broad scope, with the review panel being tasked with re-imagining the roles, responsibilities and resources of councils so that they can meet community expectations, which have evolved significantly over the last 30 years.
What we currently do and Why
Our work is guided by the Local Government Act 2002 which sets expectations of councils and responding to the needs of our communities. The purpose of local government is to:
- Enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities;
- Promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities in the present and for the future.
The role of local authorities is to lead and represent our communities. We must engage with our communities and encourage community participation in decision-making, to consider the needs of people currently living in our district and those who will live here in the future.
Our scope is wide and gives us the opportunity to carry out tasks within the context of the purpose of local government to help make Matamata-Piako a great place to live, work and visit.
We have statutory obligations that we must adhere to, including the preparation of long term plans every three years and annual plans. We must also report on performance annually in relation to our plans, including progress on the projects that we agreed to do in consultation with our community.
In 2019, the Local Government (Community Well-being) Amendment Bill came into force which reinstated a focus on community wellbeing (social, economic, environmental and cultural), and Initial reports from the Future for Local Government suggests this is and should be, a critical area of focus of local government. Council’s strategic direction has been reoriented to align with the four community wellbeings and you can read more about this here.
We want to help make our community a more vibrant and thriving place - one where Matamata-Piako is identified as home; a place we love, a place we are proud of, and a place where we belong. Council reviewed this vision and community outcomes as part of our Long Term Plan 2021-31 and identified a range of community outcomes to work towards. For more information, please see page 11 of our Long Term Plan 2021-31.
We are continuing to support wellness in our communities via projects like ‘Pride of Place’ - a co-design project led by the community to determine and realise the potential of our town centres. You can find the latest progress on all of our major projects on our website.
What's on the horizon?
Challenges
The panel released their draft report for comment and have identified the following key questions that will need to be considered as the review progresses. You can read more at Arewa ake te Kaupapa; Raising the Platform
- How should the system of local governance be reshaped so it can adapt to future challenges and enable communities to thrive?
- What are the future functions, roles and essential features of New Zealand’s system of local government?
- How might a system of local governance embody authentic partnership under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, creating conditions for shared prosperity and wellbeing?
- What needs to change so local government and its leaders can best reflect and respond to the communities they serve?
- What should change in local governance funding and financing to ensure viability and sustainability, fairness and equity, and maximum wellbeing?
Key dates
Following release of the interim report for engagement, the following timeline has been signalled. There will be a further opportunity to provide feedback following release of the draft report and recommendations.
30 September 2022: Draft report and recommendations to be issued for public consultation
30 April 2023: Review presents final report to the Minister and Local Government New Zealand.