Thursday, 04 February 2016 12:25

Regional Conversations on local government

Written by 
Commission chair Sir Wira Gardiner. Image: Commission chair Sir Wira Gardiner. Image:

Local government in rural regions around New Zealand will have the chance to discuss challenges and opportunities with the body which oversees their functions and structures.

The Local Government Commission began its Regional Conversations initiative yesterday with a visit to Marlborough.

Commission chair Sir Wira Gardiner, Commissioner Janie Annear, with chief executive Sandra Preston, were in Blenheim meeting with Mayor Alistair Sowman and Mark Wheeler, chief executive of the Marlborough District Council.

"We're delighted to have the opportunity to come to Blenheim and hear from local government leaders about the opportunities and challenges facing the region, and how they are approaching them,'' Gardiner says.

"We know the council here has an innovative approach and I'm sure there are things we can learn from their experience.

"Equally, we'd like to know about any obstacles presented and offer assistance or ideas, if appropriate, in overcoming those.''

The Regional Conversations programme is the commission's new approach to engaging with councils, focusing on collaboration and facilitation to come up with solutions to issues regions might face. Its South Island meetings will be led by Mrs Annear, a three-term former Mayor of Timaru.

"We appreciate that while many communities and their local government leaders face similar challenges, each region will have its particular needs, context and potential solutions,'' Annear says.

"As part of our role to promote good local government we hope to stimulate, enable and share conversations towards meeting common aspirations: efficient services and cost-effective modern infrastructure allied to good quality-local decision making.''

She said that the Marlborough Roads and Marlborough Smart and Connected initiatives were of particular interest to the Commission.

"We're looking forward to hearing about these and seeing if aspects of the local experience might be applicable elsewhere.''

Further Regional Conversations meetings have been set down for Waikato (22 February) and Otago (25 February) with dates for others to be confirmed.

More like this

Dam Safety

The new Building (Dam Safety) Regulations 2022 came into force in May, covering dams of a certain height and volume threshold.

Wairau Aquifer decline

The Gravel Bed Rivers National Research Project is building knowledge of how braided rivers such as the Wairau River interact with groundwater.

Featured

Farmer confidence flowing back

Confidence is flowing back into the farming sector on the back of higher dairy and meat prices, easing interest rates and a more farmer-friendly regulatory environment.

National

Machinery & Products

GEA launches robotic milkers

Milking technology provider GEA Farm Technologies is introducing its first automatic milking system (AMS) in New Zealand.

More front hoppers

German seeding specialists Horsch have announced a new 1600- litre double-tank option that will join its current Partner FT single…

Origin Ag clocks up 20 years

With roots dating back to 2004, Origin Ag was formed as a co-operative business model that removed the traditional distributor,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Dark ages

OPINION: Before we all let The Green Party have at it with their 'bold' emissions reduction plan, the Hound thought…

Rhymes with?

OPINION: The Feds' latest banking survey shows that bankers are even less popular with farmers than they used to be,…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter