Title: Local government in New Zealand : challenges & choices /
Authors: Drage, Jean,; Cheyne, Christine,
Year: 2016
Subjects: Local government New Zealand.; Local government; New Zealand
Abstract: "Local government in New Zealand faces major challenges. Among the most pressing are continual legislative change, threats to its autonomy, the gradual erosion of community voices in council planning and decision-making, and the need for funding solutions to ensure property rates remain affordable. As well, there is an urgent need for a more coordinated approach across central government on major policy issues such as climate change and housing. This book exposes these challenges and proposes and debates solutions for the future of our local government. Strong local government is vital for ensuring economic growth across and within regions and local communities, for enhancing community wellbeing, for funding and providing the infrastructure needed for, in some cases, rapidly growing and diverse communities, for ensuring our environment is valued and protected, and for planning for development in a time of constraint on resources. This book is a 'one-stop information shop' on local government that can be used by those who regularly interact with or study this area of government, by those working within local authorities, and by those who actively work to ensure their communities grow in a sustainable way"--Back cover.
Contents: Machine-generated contents: Part I: Introduction. New Zealand's Local Government: Today's Challenges / Jean Drage -- Why We Need this Book / Alan McRobie -- Part II: New Zealand's Local Government in a Changing World. Local Government in a Changing World: What Does the Future Hold? / Mike Reid -- Climate Change and Local Government / Prue Taylor -- Local Government and Housing: A State of Transition / Patricia Austin -- Part III: Local Government and Māori. Māori and Local Government / Morgan Godfery -- Māori Wards and Advisory Boards / Maria Bargh -- Ngā Hononga: Using Relationships to Protect the Ancestral Estate / April Bennett -- Part IV: Local Democracy. Public Participation and Community Engagement: The Changing Nature of Local Political Participation / Christine Cheyne -- Local Government Elections / Jean Drage -- Local Government and Proportional Representation / Janine Hayward -- Political Representation: The Councillor's Role / Jean Drage and Karen Webster -- Local Political Leadership / Christine Cheyne -- Local Government and the Media / Janine Rankin and Christine Cheyne -- Part V: Funding. Funding Local Government / Christine Cheyne -- Part VI: Governance and Management. The Nature of Governance in New Zealand's Local Government / Karen Johnston -- Public Sector Management in New Zealand's Local Government / Andy Asquith -- Part VII: Auckland. Auckland: How to Govern It? / Grant Duncan -- An Early Assessment of the Auckland Unitary Model / Charles Crothers -- Part VIII: The Planning and Legislative Environment. New Approaches to Planning and Decision-making / Karen Johnston -- Regional Councils: Local Government as Environmental Managers / Jeff McNeill.