Council Response to Future for Local Government Panel Final Report
In June, the Government released the ‘Future for Local Government Panel Final Report’ which included a statement from the Panel that the current local government system in New Zealand is not fit for purpose. The report also included 17 key recommendations. Some recommendations were welcome, such as those on global funding for councils, and entrenching the purpose and role of local government into the Local Government Act.
Overall, the Waimate District Council feel the report is underwhelming and has prepared a response that sets out the approach Council had hoped for and examines a number of areas where the Panel has fallen well short of expectations for a well-reasoned, practical, affordable and community-oriented approach to local democratic reform.
Read the full report here: Council Response to Future for Local Government Panel Final Report August 2023