Senior leaders in local government

Build the knowledge, judgement and relationships needed to lead across a council, not only within your own area. 

The Taituarā Senior Leaders in Local Government Programme is designed for experienced local government leaders with responsibility for significant functions, business groups or portfolios. 

Across four in-person blocks, participants work with experienced facilitators, guest speakers and peers to examine the practical challenges of senior leadership in local government. 

2027 Wellington cohort 

• Block 1: Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 February 2027 
• Block 2: Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 March 2027 
• Block 3: Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 April 2027 
• Block 4: Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 May 2027 

Who should join 

This programme is for group and executive leaders with a broad span of responsibility, including leaders who manage multiple functions or business units. 

Most participants will be Tier 2 leaders who report directly to the chief executive, or senior leaders preparing to take on broader organisational leadership responsibilities. 

What the programme covers 

• Enterprise and strategic leadership 
• Leading through change and uncertainty 
• Democracy and governance 
• Ethical leadership 
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi in local government 
• Stakeholder relationships, influence and negotiation 
• Political acumen 
• Long-term planning, risk and legislation 
• Local government finance 
• Resilience and mental fitness 
• Communication and storytelling 

Programme overview 

Block 1 – Enterprise Leadership in Local Government 

Explore the shift from leading a business group to contributing to the leadership of the whole council. Topics include enterprise and strategic thinking, working effectively within an executive leadership team, democracy and governance and leading through change and uncertainty. In this block we also explore practical Te Tiriti leadership, te ao Māori perspectives, expectations of council leaders, and how Te Tiriti can inform leadership decisions, systems and relationships. 

Block 2 – Ethics, relationships and political acumen 

Examine ethical leadership, stakeholder dynamics, partnership building, influence and negotiation. Participants will also consider the local government political environment and the relationship between elected members and management. 

Block 3 – Long-term planning, risk and legislation 

Consider the senior leader’s role in long-term planning, organisational risk and council decision-making. This block also covers relevant legislative frameworks and leadership during emergencies and crises. 

Block 4 – Finance, resilience and communication 

Build knowledge of local government finance and financial stewardship, alongside practical approaches to resilience and mental fitness. The programme concludes with communication practice, reflection and a leadership action plan. 

How the programme works 

The programme combines facilitated learning with guest speakers, local government examples, practical activities and peer discussion. 

Participants are encouraged to test ideas in their workplace between blocks and reflect on what they have applied when the cohort comes back together. 

The planned content may be adjusted where a significant sector development or an emerging cohort need makes another focus more useful.