Climate Change update: the legacy we will leave to our tamariki and mokopuna

Whether it is the effects of the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods, Cyclone Gabrielle, or the droughts gripping the South Island, the impacts of climate change are beginning to come into sharper focus. The urgent need to mitigate and adapt to future changes to our climate has never been more apparent. In this update we talk about the latest 'Synthesis Report' from the IPCC, the second New Zealand Emissions Reduction Plan, and our upcoming Climate Change Forum.

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2:43 PM, 29 March 2023

Resource management reform update March 2023

The flurry of action in the resource management space continues. We know many of you have done significant work in the past couple of months submitting and presenting to select committee on the Natural and Built Environment Bill (NBEA) and Spatial Planning Bill (SPA).

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2:28 PM, 28 March 2023

2023 Excellence Awards a scintillating smörgåsbord of inspirational local government mahi

We are delighted to announce that we have received a near record 43 entrants into the 2023 LGFA Taituarā Excellence Awards®. Though the 2018 record of 45 entrants stands for another year, our judges are getting to grips with the strong show of entries ready to announce the category winners, as well as outstanding local government kaimahi, at our Gala Dinner on 8 June 2023.

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2:56 PM, 27 March 2023

Engineering a fair and inclusive transition to a low-emissions economy

Our transition to a low emissions economy is at the forefront of many peoples minds right now. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Ministry for Social Development (MSD) are working on an Equitable Transitions Strategy to ensure a fair and inclusive transition to a low-emissions economy. Input from you and your community will help ensure everyone is supported as our economy changes.

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12:59 AM, 13 March 2023

Taituarā submission on resource management reforms

This month, Taituarā submitted on the Natural and Built Environment Bill and the Spatial Planning Bill. These Bills form part of the replacement for the existing Resource Management Act (RMA). We have significant concerns with the Bills as it is unlikely that the new system will be simpler, more efficient, and cost-effective, nor is it clear that they will adequately address climate change.

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10:12 AM, 2 March 2023

Taituarā makes Three Waters recommendations to government

On 2 March 2023, Chief Advisor Raymond Horan met with Parliament's Finance and Expenditure Committee to discuss our submissions on the Water Services Legislation Bill and Water Services Economic Efficiency and Consumer Protection Bill. As a managerial organisation our role is to make policy decisions workable.

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12:20 AM, 2 March 2023

Public libraries a hidden gem, new report finds

The new Taituarā ‘Living Libraries’ report has found New Zealand’s public libraries contribute massively to people’s feeling of happiness and wellbeing, and help them feel connected to their community in many practical ways.

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4:42 PM, 28 February 2023

Supporting our local government colleagues in the Pacific Islands

Last week, a range of council officers and elected officials met with Pacific Islands local government officers and elected officials taking a study tour of Aotearoa New Zealand.

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3:13 PM, 28 February 2023

Adding natural hazard information to LIM reports 

The Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Bill, relating to the Act commonly referred to as LGOIMA, is currently at the Select Committee stage. This new legislation proposes to improve Land Information Memoranda (LIMs) and the information provided in them in order to disclose the risk of natural hazards increasingly likely due to climate change.

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12:37 AM, 20 February 2023

Cat regulation for the benefit of kiwis and Kiwis

As we work towards our goal of Predator Free 2050, it is becoming clearer that our native birds, lizards, and bats are in many cases severely threatened by cats. Cats are our much loved pets, but what about pest cats? There is more and more discussion about how New Zealanders can strike the right balance between protecting our unique biodiversity as well as appreciating the pets which many Kiwis enjoy - that's Kiwi with a capital K.

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2:24 PM, 14 December 2022

Ballot bins and election hubs

We have completed another successful electoral cycle. A huge congratulations to everyone involved. In this article, Susan Haniel, our Senior Advisor, Sector Improvement provides an update on the ballot bins and election hubs which made a positive contribution to turnout in many parts of the country.

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4:04 PM, 13 December 2022

Highlights from Taituarā Conference 2022

There was so much going on at our conference themed ‘Ko te heke mai ināianei – the future is now’ from 23-24 November 2022 – however, we’ve managed to pick out a few key points to share with you. We’ve also got lots of photos from the conference to share, details of how you can help our closing keynote speaker Ezra Hirawani support Kiwis experiencing power poverty, as well as a date and venue for Taituarā Conference 2023.

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3:49 PM, 13 December 2022

Taituarā Christmas and New Year closing dates

Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou – season’s greetings for Christmas and the New Year.

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12:31 AM, 5 December 2022

Latest LG Executive Leaders meet in Upper Hutt

Our latest LG Executive Leaders Programme began at Wallaceville House last month, with a cohort of 13 leaders from across the motu coming together to take part in a 12-month journey to develop their leadership skills and 'the who of leadership'.

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11:04 AM, 2 December 2022

A zippy turnaround required for resource management consultations

Parliament's Environment Committee has opened consultation on the first two of three resource management bills. With submissions closing on 30 January 2023, we are keen to support councils to have their say despite the short turnaround.

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12:36 AM, 28 November 2022

Natasha Stubbing on leading for the future

Natasha Stubbing, Marketing and Engagement Manager at Northland Regional Council, was a recipient of the Taituarā 2022 Emerging Leader Award. As part of her prize AskYourTeam sponsored her to attend the 2022 International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Conference in the Ohio. In this article, Natasha reports on what she learned about leading for the future – with empathy, energy, equity, and a listening ear.

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3:45 PM, 25 November 2022

Five key workshops at Taituarā Conference 2022

We're excited that Taituarā Conference 2022 is coming up really soon – it's taking place from 29-30 November 2022 at the TSB Arena and Shed 6 in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. As part of the programme we have five workshops zeroing in on key topics relevant to local government professionals across the motu.

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10:22 AM, 17 November 2022

Taituarā Community Wellbeing Committee members announced

We would like to announce the members of the Taituarā Community Wellbeing Committee. Thank you to all those who applied to join the Committee.

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5:26 PM, 15 November 2022

Resource management bills introduced to Parliament

Taituarā – Local Government Professionals Aotearoa welcomes the introduction of the Natural and Built Environment Bill and Spatial Planning Bill to the House of Representatives.

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11:13 AM, 15 November 2022

Update on alcohol licensing reforms

The Government is now progressing work on alcohol law in two phases: an immediate phase looking to improve community participation in alcohol licensing decisions, and a longer-term phase considering wider systematic reform.

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10:04 AM, 15 November 2022

Jason Marris reports on the ICMA Conference

Following his exchanges in Texas, Kaipara District Council's Jason Marris who is General Manager for Engagement and Transformation, and current interim Chief Executive, attended the International City/County Management Association or ICMA Conference in Columbus, Ohio.

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11:48 AM, 9 November 2022

Boosting your council’s attractiveness and securing talented workers

With quarterly unemployment unchanged at 3.3 per cent this week, it’s very much a jobseekers’ market in which organisations remain in fierce competition to find the right recruits for their roles. We’re pleased to announce that Jo Cribb will facilitate a session to help you turbocharge your council’s pulling power and get you thinking about your future workforce at our Taituarā Conference 2022. This will take place in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington from 29-30 November 2022.

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11:21 AM, 3 November 2022

Jason Marris reports back from Texas City

Jason Marris was winner of a Taituarā Overseas Manager Exchange in 2021. Jason is General Manager for Engagement and Transformation, and currently interim Chief Executive at Kaipara District Council. In this second of three pieces, Jason reports back from Texas City.

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10:22 AM, 2 November 2022

Shyamal Ram on gaining a fresh global perspective

Shyamal Ram, one of the two Taituarā Emerging Leaders of the Year in 2022, recently attended the International City/County Management Association or ICMA Conference in Ohio. He reports back on his experiences at the Conference as well as some observations about how local government works in Maryland where he was hosted at Gaithersburg City following the Conference.

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4:34 PM, 1 November 2022

Taituarā responds to the Future for Local Government Review Panel's draft report 'He mata whāriki, he matawhānui'

Taituarā – Local Government Professionals Aotearoa welcomes the Future for Local Government Review Panel’s draft report 'He mata whāriki, he matawhānui' and acknowledges the Panel’s significant effort to get to this point, including the extensive engagement it has undertaken over the past 18 months.

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10:01 AM, 28 October 2022