Childcare costs may be covered
More young people may put their hands up for spots on local councils this year after the Remuneration Authority announced a proposed childcare allowance policy for local government representatives.
Hurunui District councillor Julia Mclean said she hoped the move would be the catalyst for younger faces around local government tables across the country.
When she was elected to the council in 2016, Mclean asked the Remuneration Authority to subsidise care for her three children, then aged 7, 4 and 6 months, while she was doing council business. At the time, the authority covered cellphone bills, internet use and mileage for councillors, but not childcare.
Mclean and Nelson City councillor Matt Lawrey joined forces to campaign for the allowance after Mclean wrote an open letter questioning why childcare was not a claimable expense, like technology and transport was.
Lawrey had been concerned about the lack of diversity on New Zealand’s councils, and drafted a letter with Mclean to Local Government New Zealand’s National Council calling for it to engage with the Remuneration Authority about introducing a childcare allowance.
The letter was supported by 43 past and present elected representatives, including former Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast, former Christchurch mayor and current councillor Vicki Buck, Motueka Community Board chairman Brent Maru, Hawke’s Bay Regional councillor Paul Bailey and Dunedin City councillor Aaron Hawkins.
The campaign was echoed the following year when the Young Elected Members Network (YEM) called for urgent changes to break down barriers and enable younger people to get involved in local government. The submission was a first for the network and included eight case studies on how a lack of childcare support was presenting a barrier to participation in the sector.
The draft policy offers an allowance of up to $15 per hour for the care of children under the age of 14, while elected representatives are engaged in local authority business. The allowance cannot be paid to family members or anyone who normally resides with the child and is only available for up to eight hours in any 24-hour period.
Mclean and Lawrey said they were ‘‘ecstatic and relieved’’ their calls for support had been heard.
‘‘This is a bold step forward from the Remuneration Authority in addressing an issue that will send a strong message to young elected members and others considering standing, you are valued,’’ Mclean said.
‘‘After my initial stand on the issue, it became clear it was a barrier for people considering standing or staying in the sector.’’
Lawrey said a lot of people did not understand how difficult it was financially and logistically for people who were not retired to serve on councils, particularly in the regions.
‘‘If adopted, this policy will remove one of those barriers for younger people and women in particular.’’ Local Government NZ figures show only 6 per cent of elected members sitting around a council or community board table are under the age of 40.
Mclean said she was concerned though that the Remuneration Authority proposed leaving the allowance for the discretion of each council to act on. The Remuneration Authority is receiving comments from elected members until May 31. If accepted, it will come into effect on July 1.