You will all be very aware of the major announcement made by the Government this week and the draft proposal to ‘Simplify Local Government’.
This proposal is part of a tsunami of legislative change coming over the next few months that will have implications for all of us in local government. Our Sector Readiness team, made up of Raymond Horan, Clare Wooding, and Philip Shackleton are putting in the mahi to keep track of how these changes will affect the sector, submit on the proposals and keep you informed.
The proposed changes include:
- Changes to the purpose of local government and the list of core services through the Systems Improvement Bill, with further announcements expected on rate-capping and a second Bill in 2026.
- Reform of resource management legislation, including one Bill to overhaul environmental management and another introducing mandatory spatial planning.
- Reforms to the Building Act to support voluntary amalgamation of consent authorities and ensure councils are no longer the “last one standing” when failures occur, alongside recent changes to earthquake strengthening and self-certification for plumbers and drainlayers.
- Repeal of development contributions, replaced with development levies and broader powers to set targeted rates.
- An overhaul of the Public Works Act to make land acquisition for public works easier.
- A long-overdue shift from fuel excise duty to road user charges.
- An anticipated inquiry into the 2025 local elections.
You can find out more about the major areas of change, submissions we’ve made, and view our monthly Legislation Tracker on our website.
There is a lot of change coming, but we are here to help you navigate these shifts and support you to get to the other side.
Suzanne Boyd, Chief Executive at Taituarā
