The Department of Internal Affairs

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Local Government in New Zealand - Local Councils

 

Local Government Information Series

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  • Analysis of Local Government Rating Tools and Forecast Revenue
  • Observations on the use of Debt by Local Government in New Zealand
  • A Review of Collaboration Among Councils
  • Māori Participation and Engagement with Local Government
  • Information on Local Government Water Network Infrastructure
  • Observations and Trends from the 2009/19 Long-term Council Community Plans
  • Analysis of Financial Information from Local Government 2007/08 and 2008/09 Annual Plans
  • Local Government Case Studies
  • Analysis of Council Organisations
  • Local Government Representation Processes
  • Development and Financial Contributions in 2007/2008
  • Information and analysis about local government in New Zealand

    A programme of research, evaluation and information collection about local government is being undertaken by The Department of Internal Affairs.

    This information is collected as part of the evaluation of local government legislation, and as part of ongoing work on a database for regular reporting on information and analysis about local government.

    The Local Government Information Series (LGIS) is based on work either undertaken by the DIA, or commissioned as part of the need to provide information about this sector. LGIS information will be useful for

    • councils
    • people interested in local government
    • policy developers
    • researchers and academics.

    Local Government Information Series Reports

    To view these documents you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader on your PC. You can download Acrobat Reader for free from the Adobe website.

    Analysis of Local Government Rating Tools and Forecast Revenue

    LGIS 2011/03 Analysis of Local Government Rating Tools and Forecast Revenue (935KB)

    This report provides an analysis of councils' rates resolutions and funding impact statements from the financial years 2007/08 through to 2010/11. The purpose was to better understand how the various rating tools available are being used by councils.

    Decisions by individual councils on rating systems are the result of complex political decisions, reflecting unique local situations, communities and trends. Similar types of councils with comparable population sizes often select different rating systems to fund their activities. The research findings indicate that the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 gives councils ample flexibility in the way they fund their activities; but, councils have made few changes to their rating systems over the four years studied.

    Observations on the use of Debt by Local Government in New Zealand

    LGIS 2011/01 Observations on the use of Debt by Local Government in New Zealand (1.83MB)

    This report provides an analysis of councils' use of debt.

    Not all councils have the same approach to debt. This report identifies some overall trends for the sector and for sector groups (e.g. metro, rural, provincial, regional). Findings indicate that the use of debt by local government is increasing and this may be part of a cyclical trend.

    A Review of Collaboration Among Councils

    LGIS 2009/20 A Review of Collaboration Among Councils (387KB)

    This report provides insights into the factors that encourage collaboration among local councils, and those that might hinder it.

    Findings support the idea that key drivers of inter-council collaboration are fiscal constraints and higher expectations of citizens, customers, and the councils themselves relating to council services. Leadership is highlighted as an important factor in setting the scene in which fruitful inter-council collaboration can occur.

    Māori Participation and Engagement with Local Government

    LGIS 2009/19 Māori Participation and Engagement with Local Government (1.01MB)

    This report presents the findings of research into Māori participation and engagement in council decision-making processes, with an emphasis on the views of Māori.

    The research found that the Local Government Act is contributing to strengthening relationships between Māori and councils, by broadening the potential contribution of Māori to social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being. It also identified a number of other factors that could enhance relationships between council and Māori.

    Information on Local Government Water Network Infrastructure

    LGIS 2009/18 Information on Local Government Water Network Infrastructure (1.04MB)

    This report presents the results of analysis of data collected from a range of council documents on aspects of the Water Supply, Wastewater and Stormwater systems operated by councils across New Zealand.

    Information in this report includes:

    • some of the physical attributes and estimated state of water infrastructure systems;
    • estimates of forecast capital and operating expenditure on these systems;and
    • estimates of the current and planned future levels of renewals and maintenance.

    Observations and Trends from the 2009/19 Long-term Council Community Plans

    The Department of Internal Affairs has completed an analysis of council’s final 2009/19 long-term council community plans (LTCCPs).

    These reports include analysis of high-level financial information, and a range of non-financial observations from the LTCCPs. The information provides the basis for understanding and analysing the key trends arising over the next ten years for the local government sector as a whole.

    LGIS 2009/15 Observations and Trends from the 2009/19 Long-term Council Community Plans (478KB)

    LGIS 2009/16 2009/19 Long-term Council Community Plans Financial Analysis Summary Report (2MB)

    LGIS 2009/17 A Snapshot of Local Government in 2009 - 2009/19 Long-term Council Community Plans Non-financial Analysis Summary Report (792KB)

    Analysis of Financial Information from Local Government 2007/08 and 2008/09 Annual Plans

    LGIS 2009/14 Analysis of Financial Information from Local Government 2007/08 and 2008/09 Annual Plans (326kb)

    This report compares financial forecasts from the 85 local authorities' annual plans for 2007/08 and 2008/09 with the corresponding 2007/08 and 2008/09 period in the 2006/16 LTCCPs. The movements reported are movements between the forecast in the LTCCP and the forecast in the Annual Plan.

    Local Government Case Studies

    This series of case studies looks at how councils have approached the planning (mainly the long-term council community plan), decision-making and community outcomes provisions of the Local Government Act 2002. The case studies are based on interviews undertaken in 2008 with seven territorial authorities and two regional councils. A range of community stakeholders were also interviewed.

    Determining the actual impact of some parts of the Act was difficult, as people were also asked about planning and decision-making activities they undertook prior to 2002. However, a review of council perceptions indicates that, overall, the Act has had a positive impact on councils. The case studies build on and generally support previous work by the Local Government Commission and Local Futures.

    LGIS 2009/11 Case Study - Whanganui District Council (453KB)

    LGIS 2009/10 Case Study - Otago Regional Council (754KB)

    LGIS 2009/09 Case Study - Hawke's Bay Regional Council (482KB)

    LGIS 2009/08 Case Study - Waimakariri District Council (1.08MB)

    LGIS 2009/07 Case Study - Invercargill City Council (724KB)

    LGIS 2009/06 Case Study - Tararua District Council (658KB)

    LGIS 2009/05 Case Study - Rodney District Council (608KB)

    LGIS 2009/04 Case Study - Westland District Council (658KB)

    LGIS 2009/03 Case Study - Wellington City Council (622KB)

    Analysis of Council Organisations

    LGIS 2009/02 Analysis of Council Organisations (339KB)

    The Department of Internal Affairs has comissioned research into the nature and variability of council organisations used by councils, and how councils monitored the performance of their council organisations (as required by the Local Government Act 2002).

    Many councils have associated or subsidiary council organisations in which they have some form of ownership or controlling interest. This research gives an overview of council organisations, including

    • how councils are using their council organisations
    • the contribution council organisations make to total council finances
    • addressing a number of issues in the way councils are using their council organisations.

    This research also gives a basis for understanding performance reporting within the local government sector.

    Local Government Representation Processes

    LGIS 2009/01 Review of Local Government Representation Processes (631KB)

    The Department of Internal Affairs has commissioned research into long-term overall changes in council representation, including changes associated with council representation review processes.

    The Local Government Act 2002 requires that local authorities undertake a representation review at least once every six years. This process consists of reviewing representation arrangements such as the number of councillors for a ward or district, the boundries and number of community boards and the system of voting. This research looks at trends in representation and the way that councils determine and consult on their representation arrangements.

    Development and Financial Contributions in 2007/08

    The Department of Internal Affairs has commissioned research into the levels of development and financial contributions used by local authorities in New Zealand.

    LGIS 2008/01 Analysis of 2007/08 Development Contributions (1.26MB)

    LGIS 2008/02 Analysis of 2007/08 Financial Contributions (491kb)

    Introduced under the Local Government Act 2002, development contributions allow territorial authorities to collect revenue to recover costs associated with development. Financial contributions are set under the Resource Management Act 1991 and recover costs related to the impact of development on the environment. These charges help to ensure that the costs accompanying development are shared across the community.

    While not every council has a working development contributions policy, the research presented provides a summary of the levels of charges set and the range of council activities these charges have been used to fund.

    • 44 out of 73 territorial authorities have an operative development contributions policy
    • Median development contribution charges range from $22,200 to less than $100. Findings show that territorial authorities needing additional infrastructure due to high development and population growth tend to charge more
    • For most of the councils collecting development contributions, the forecast revenue is less than 5% of their total. However, in some high-growth areas development contributions are forecast to be as much as 20% of their future revenue

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