Over the past few years, the government has commenced a significant programme of reforms that affect local government. Ko Tātou LGNZ (Local Government NZ) has stated that it is likely that the local government sector will look very different by 2050 as they prioritise how local democracy and governance need to evolve over the next 30 years to improve the wellbeing of New Zealand communities, the environment, and actively embody Te Tiriti o Waitangi in their jurisdictions.
In 2021, the government announced an independent review of local authorities and invested in a programme of reforms that address the three waters, the Resource Management Act (RMA) and local government reform. These reforms are addressing complex issues which may collectively affect a large portion of council services.
We asked our respondents to identify what areas local authorities should be prioritising. An overwhelming 99 percent of respondents identified maintaining and repairing ageing assets as a high or medium priority. Similarly, 98 percent of respondents identified investing in infrastructure to support growth as a high or medium priority for local government authorities. This suggests that local authorities should focus more on the existing and new assets needed to accommodate expected growth in urban intensification. Some respondents raised concerns that an increasing focus on urban intensification requires a balanced investment to ensure a high-quality urban environment for future generations.
On the other hand, respondents see focusing on providing affordable housing and environmental protection, community, culture and recreational activities, and reducing debt as a medium to low priority. This could reflect the efforts already underway in the industry to ensure that infrastructure planning and design is a partnering approach. With organisations like Amotai, many businesses are creating supplier diversity within their business that benefits wider communities. Iwi support helps organisations understand the greatest benefit their development will have for the community.
