Hamilton’s turn to host review panel
The independent panel in charge of the Future of Local Government Review is prepared for a high level of fear and anxiety when it meets with Waikato mayors and councillors.
The panel held its first meeting with Northland elected members in late May but the meeting with Waikato councils on June 15 is expected to be the biggest of its national tour.
The meeting will be closed to the public.
The review was ordered by Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta to recommend changes to the role, function, representation, governance and funding of councils.
It will also have a focus on Treaty partnerships and the role Ma¯ori play in local government.
The panel must hand in its interim report by September 30, 2021, and then a draft report will be released for public comment in September 2022.
A final report will be handed in by April 30, 2023.
Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said shegathered that elected members from around the region were nervous about what the panel might recommend.
Councils were still coming to terms with looming changes to water services and resource management.
Southgate said her council had not taken a position on any reforms but the meeting with the panel in
Hamilton would be a chance to ask more questions about the changes.
‘‘There is some fear and anxiety about how to protect those local government functions and what input local communities will have if changes are made.
‘‘However I see change as an exciting opportunity to see what we should be focusing on and how we can shape our future.’’
Waipa¯ mayor Jim Mylchreest said councils could lose water services but then be saddled with other responsibilities, such as social services and housing. ‘‘And we could probably do a better job of building homes [than the Government] because we are closer to the community but, the question is, how will that be funded?
‘‘Anything new like that should come with the appropriate funding from the Government, not from rates.’’
Mylchreest agreed the review was needed but also thought the Government would ‘‘dictate what happens’’ in the end.
The review panel included chairman Jim Palmer who recently retired as chief executive of the Waimakariri District council after 17 years.
Palmer said he understood there would be uncertainty around the changes but the review was a chance to look at how councils could better serve communities for the next 20 to 30 years.
‘‘We are an independent panel and the minister has made it clear she does not want to influence our thinking, she will be open to the recommendations which she sees are an important part of reimagining the future of local government.’’
Palmer said he was also aware councils were being asked by their communities to move into social services.
‘‘We have to think about what are the opportunities, by partnering with Government and iwi, to address those key areas.
‘‘We don’t have a fixed view on what councils should be and should not be involved in, but we are keen to explore feedback.’’
Palmer said the panel is visiting each region in the country and then will return to meet with each council to give elected members another chance to provide feedback.
Other panel members included Penny Hulse, former deputy mayor of Auckland; John Ombler, a longtime public servant who was the controller of the All-of-Government response to Covid-19; Gael Surgenor, general manager of Community and Social Innovation at Auckland Council; and Antoine Coffin, a director at Te Onewa Consultants, specialists in government, local government, and corporate strategic planning.
‘‘We are an independent panel and the minister has made it clear she does not want to influence our thinking, she will be open to the recommendations’’
Jim Palmer