Opening address for the Manawatu/Wanganui Regional Forum, Thursday 10 July 2008, Palmerston North

 

 

Introduction

It’s good to be here today to open the Manawatu/Wanganui Regional Forum.

Acknowledgements

I want to acknowledge Garric Murfitt, Mayor Jono Naylor, Basil Morrison, Mayors, Councillors, Chief Executives and guest speaker Dave Currie and facilitator Jenni Vernon.  Teenaa Koutou

Alignment between national and local outcomes

Local government plays a major role in ensuring we achieve better outcomes for our communities, and that’s not an easy task, it requires a high level of coordination and collaborative effort.  The challenge for your two day forum is to consider the challenges across the region and determine whether regional priorities and strategies to achieve those outcomes can be met.

Since 2000, as a result of the Prime Minister’s determination to forge a co-operative relationship with Local Government, a high emphasis has been put on collaboration across the government sector, central and local government working together, and alongside the private and community sector.

Local and central government are about serving our communities in different but connected ways.  Local and central government both aim to promote the wellbeing of communities.

 To build a strong future and anticipate and prepare for future growth, we all need to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead. Local leadership, with central government support, will achieve the best outcomes for social, environmental, economic and cultural wellbeing.

Sustainability

The strategic direction of local government has strong links to Government’s sustainability goals.  Investing in sustainable homes and communities is part of the Government’s vision for a sustainable nation, and Budget 2008 builds on work already underway to help New Zealanders use our resources wisely, and protect our precious natural environment.

The Prime Minister in her opening speech to Parliament set a clear expectation for New Zealand to be a carbon neutral nation.

As a result, the government intends to position New Zealand as a world-leading exponent of smart, innovative, and business-savvy responses to environmental issues.  This leverages off our clean, green image and our reputation for business integrity.  We are working with business networks to get the message across that paying attention to environmental issues is a win-win for companies, the economy, and the environment.

Global climate change will be the defining issue of the 21^st century.  It presents very real challenges for our country and we have a once in a generation opportunity to make some critical decisions about rising to meet that challenge - the benefits of which should improve our way of life the state of our environment and put sustainability at the heart of our thinking.

During this term of government in particular, we have been rolling out a comprehensive package of strategies, policies and initiatives to put New Zealand on the path to greater sustainability.

The package includes; the Emissions Trading Scheme legislation currently before Parliament, the New Zealand Energy Strategy, the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservative Strategy, revision of the Building Code and transport and tourism strategies

Budget 2008 will help New Zealand respond to climate change. The Government announced it will provide $4.8 million over four years to enhance weather forecasting for severe weather events, and a further $1 million over four years will assist communities and local government to adapt to the physical impacts of climate change.

Budget 2008 initiatives

One of the myths that needs to be refuted certainly at a political level is the amount of investment central government has made which serves to support the local government aspirations.

Between 1999 and 2007, central Government funding to local government increased by 96 per cent from $390.6 million to $764 million.  This figure excludes the Rates Rebate Scheme and some targeted assistance appropriations.   In percentage terms that indicates movement from 10.8 per cent to just over 13 per cent of local government revenue.

In addition to this funding, the Government

• Is providing $1.3 billion in new transport funding – a significant share of which will go to local government. Has allocated $150 million over 10 years for drinking water schemes. Has provided around $9.8 million for sewerage schemes for smaller communities, in addition to the recently announced $40 million towards the Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme (SWSS) as part of the recent Budget and plans to spend $600 million over six years for urban rail in Auckland and Wellington.

While Budget 2008 delivers in core areas, we understand that many kiwi households are under pressure and this is why the tax relief for families is so important. There is a strong belief that to grow our economy, we need to continually invest in our people, our communities, our core public services and core infrastructure. The Government is working hard to address these issues alongside local government, the private sector and our communities.

Budget 08 reinforces what Labour is all about, building a fair economy and strong future for all New Zealanders.  Making sure that we continue to function as a caring, inclusive society whose well-being is judged by how we respond to those most vulnerable.

Alongside this, the Government has increased funding in our road and public transport network.

The build up of public transport capability benefits not only the travelling public, but also assists other objectives such as helping New Zealand meet its commitments to reduce the effects of global climate change and to improve New Zealand’s competitive position as a trading nation.

Investments in Canterbury, Northland and Te Tai Rawhiti are regional examples of increased investment in regional transport and ofcourse the re-acquisition of New Zealand’s newest State Owned Enterprise – KIWIRAIL.

Capital funding of $33.5 million over a four year period has been secured to contribute towards the 10-year Canterbury Transport Regional Implementation Plan. The Government is committed to the 10-year plan in partnership with Environment Canterbury, and in the third year of the funding announced in this Budget the Government will review what additional money will be needed to complete the project.

It also includes $30 million of capital funding over three years to continue transport funding for regional development initiatives in Northland and Tairawhiti, $15 million of capital funding over four years for aviation passenger safety and security infrastructure at airports, $2 million of operating funding over four years for the Civil Aviation Authority to continue to meet international best practice obligations, $4.8 million of operating funding (over four years) and $985,000 capital (between 2007/08 and 2009/10) funding to strengthen Transport Accident Investigation Commission capability and expand services, ($28 million of operating) funding in 2008/09 for OnTrack and $65 million (between 2007/08 and 2008/09 in capital funding) to maintain the national rail network and reconfigure rail land.

Demographic changes

To build sustainable cities, we need to ensure that the diversity of communities are also represented, and that all groups can participate in their community decision-making.  To meet future challenges we must focus on how our communities are evolving and maintain relevance to changing expectations.  Last year’s census confirmed the rapidly changing demographic profile by ethinicity and age distribution.

In less than fifty years, half of the population will be aged forty-five and over, while a quarter will be over sixty-five.  The aging population will have a range of impacts on public services, on central and local government, and affect the way that our communities function. This presents unique challenges for central and local government, and we need to respond to these demands.

Local government legislation

The local government sector has been through a significant period of reform since 2002.  The new legislation supports councils to play an important role in promoting and supporting the wellbeing of their local communities. 

The Long-Term Council Community Plans (LTCCP’s) and Annual Plans have been an integral part of the legislation.  Planning for the future to promote the wellbeing of communities, ensuring the provision of essential infrastructure (such as roads and water services) and working with community groups to address local issues have to an extent been a core expectation of a well functioning local government. 

Councils working together

I have been impressed by the work that councils are doing with their communities, and with each other.  Across New Zealand, many Councils are implementing shared service arrangements to improve both the effectiveness and the efficiency of their services.  They are working together to create development programmes that provide shared services and access to resources across regions in a cost-effective and sustainable way. 

I know that in this region the Palmerston North City Council and the Manawatu District Council are looking to strengthen their relationship to develop more shared services and joint projects across all activities. I understand that so far a new staffing arrangement to provide building control services between the councils has been a success.

I note also the proposal to jointly manage the infrastructure and natural assets of both the Manawatu and Rangitikei District Councils via a new shared services team. The strategic thinking undertaken in this region is a straight forward way to improve efficiencies and provide a sustainable service to ratepayers and citizens.

Closing

The local government sector faces some significant challenges in the future, but there are also some exciting opportunities ahead. As sector leaders and policy and decision-makers we need to do our bit to ensure that the right decisions are made as we invest in the future. Of course, underpinning the right decisions and seeing them through is about good planning and sharing the work load. I am sure that this forum will provide an excellent opportunity for sharing ideas, discussing issues and looking at challenges we all face to build a better future. Thank you.