Local councils are facing a wave of major reforms, including Local Water Done Well, local government reorganisation, rates capping, building control, emergency management, and resource management.
The scale and speed of these changes is unprecedented and represents the biggest change to local councils since 1989.
Government statements like ‘the need to restore people’s faith in local government’ and ‘local government is broken’, oversimplify the challenges councils face and undervalue their role.
The latest proposal introduces a rates cap between 2 and 4%, excluding water costs, which will be billed separately. This is on the heels of the proposed disestablishment of regional councils, with the first step being to replace regional councillors with a board made up of regional mayors. Councils have just 76 days to submit on the rates capping proposal.
This compressed timeframe raises concerns about the ability to review the details, respond to the impacts and consider if the proposed changes are doable.
Implementing multiple major reforms carries risks for service delivery, community wellbeing, and local democracy. Councils need time and resources to adapt, consult, and ensure that changes work for their communities. It should be highlighted that there is no funding from Government for these transition activities.
Council will work with the community, LGNZ and other councils to advocate for flexibility, common-sense exemptions, and a realistic approach to reform.
