How might Councils collaborate on Water Services?
While we wait to see the detail of Local Water Done Well, we know the next set of reforms will include the ability for councils to shift delivery of water services into new configurations, including streamlined Council Controlled Organisations.
11:02 AM, 19 March 2024Entries are now open for the 2024 Diversity Awards NZ™ programme
Entries are now open for the 2024 Diversity Awards NZ™ programme and we know that there are many local government organisations that should be part of this programme.
10:43 AM, 19 March 2024The building system is not fundamentally broken and new BRANZ levy arrangements
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has released a summary of the feedback it received last year on its review of the building consent system. You can access it here.
Record Entry into the LGFA Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards®
A record 54 entries have been received in the 2024 LGFA Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards®. The previous record was 45 in the 2018 competition.
10:17 AM, 19 March 2024Fast track consenting - we want your input
Further to our update, the Fast-track Approvals Bill was introduced into the House on the 7 March. As anticipated the Bill’s purpose focuses on ‘the delivery of infrastructure and development projects with significant regional or national benefits’.
2:10 PM, 13 March 2024Draft Government Policy Statement on land transport - we want your input
The Draft Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024-34 (GPS) is out for consultation until 2 April 2024.
There is a significant shift in priorities signalled in this GPS. The emphasis is on economic and productivity growth, rather than a range of well-being outcomes. This means, for example, that support for active and public transport and reducing climate emissions are no longer priorities.
9:41 AM, 13 March 2024Influencing the shape of the Government’s Fast Track Consenting Bill
The Fast track Consenting Bill is being developed at pace as part of the Government’s 100-day plan and we expect to see the Bill introduced into the House on or before 7 March 2024.
1:59 PM, 26 February 2024Preparations for the Resource Management Act replacement legislation
The Government has signaled that it will embark on replacing the current RMA with new legislation. We've working with planning managers and the Ministry for the Environment to gather feedback to advocate through the next phase of the reform process.
4:20 PM, 22 February 2024Analysis of Local Water Done Well annoucement
The Government has announced the process and timetable for the implementation of the Local Water Done Well programme. Read our analysis below.
12:36 PM, 15 February 2024Making AI work in the workplace
Malcolm Foo, Executive Director at PwC New Zealand discusses the opportunities and benefits of AI for councils.
4:54 PM, 11 December 2023Highlights from thrive | kia tōnui ai, the 2023 Taituarā Conference
More than 250 delegates gathered at Toitoi in Hastings in late November for thrive | kia tōnui ai, the Taituarā Conference.
9:25 AM, 5 December 2023Managing for the Big Issues
In early December 2023 we provided a Briefing to the Incoming Minister of Local Government, Hon Simeon Brown, Managing for the Big Issues.
11:39 AM, 4 December 2023Navigating Treaty settlement obligations with Te Haeata
Te Haeata is a searchable record of Treaty of Waitangi settlement commitments designed to support organisations to manage their Treaty settlement commitments.
Advocating for play, active recreation, and sport
Local government has a unique and critical role in the play, active recreation, and sport ecosystem, providing vital community assets that are part of the fabric of our communities along with grants and opportunities that support local communities to participate in play, active recreation, and sport.
12:10 PM, 17 November 2023Taituarā welcomes new Chief Executive
We are excited this week to welcome Suzanne Boyd, our new Chief Executive to the Taituarā team. Time has flown by since her appointment was announced in August, and we are thrilled to have her onboard to get started in the role, to meet the team, and to start connecting with our members and partners.
12:08 PM, 17 November 2023Strategic treasury management in uncertain times
The only thing for certain is change, so how can finance managers best position their Council to make the most informed decisions today? How can Councils retain the flexibility to adjust their treasury risk position as the uncertainty of the future state unfolds?
In this article, Brett Johanson from PwC New Zealand summarises the key considerations for building a strategy that will see treasury teams through all manner of financial and economic conditions.
1:11 PM, 9 November 2023Supporting community building in Honiara
Council staff from Waimakariri District Council, Selwyn District Council, and Christchurch City Council have been supporting Honiara City Council colleagues with their long-term planning and asset building as part of the Pacific Technical Assistance programme (PacificTA).
4:32 PM, 7 November 2023Wellbeing and disaster management in focus
Dennise Elers, Group Manager Community Partnerships, Central Hawke’s Bay District Council, reports back on her AskYourTeam Overseas Manager Exchange experience in Queensland where she spent time at Rockhampton Regional Council and at the LGMA Wellbeing Conference.
12:39 PM, 6 November 2023Everything is bigger in Texas...
Lauren Baddock, our 2023 Emerging Leader of the Year recipient, has recently returned from Texas, and reports back on her experience at the ICMA conference, including what she’s learnt about teenage towns and night time economies. Lauren is District Plan Lead at Horowhenua District Council.
10:49 AM, 6 November 2023Investment required in staff and development in local government
Investment in staff learning and development has a positive impact on the ability to recruit and retain staff according to research commissioned by Taituarā.
2:06 PM, 9 October 2023A guide to Standing Orders
The Taituarā Democracy and Participation Reference Group has developed some guidance to help governance and democracy services professionals and elected members get to grips with Standing Orders.
2:39 PM, 6 October 2023LTP guidance updated for the last reform legislation
In the waning days of the last Parliament, five pieces of legislation giving effect to water and resource management reforms were enacted. In response we have updated the LTP guidance that you can find in our LGSectorGoodToolkit.
10:43 AM, 20 September 2023Local Play Workforce Project – Councils: Cohort Two underway
Sport New Zealand is excited to announce that Cohort Two of the 'Local Play Workforce Project – Councils' has now been finalised – with six more Local Play Advocates recently appointed inside the following councils: Invercargill, Selwyn, Waimakariri, Central Hawke’s Bay, Whanganui, and Wellington.
10:27 AM, 13 September 2023A Pacific lens on deliberative and participatory democracy
The Pacific Urban Forum recently took place in Fiji's capital city Suva. As this article illustrates, faced with the urgent need to react to climate change, communities across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean) are forging ahead with their own solutions involving participatory democracy – solutions which could inform our own responses in Aotearoa New Zealand. This article was written by Seán Mahoney, Taituarā General Manger Sector Performance. Seán attended the Pacific Urban Forum with support from the PacificTA programme.
1:59 PM, 12 September 2023Recent changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Act 2023 (the Amendment Act) makes it easier for communities to have a say on alcohol regulation in their area, by making targeted changes to the alcohol licensing process in the Act.
3:58 PM, 11 September 2023