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Chief Executive of Local Government New Zealand, the recipients of the Geok Ling Phang Memorial Award, organisers, ladies and gentlemen - thank you for inviting me to join you here this morning.

I would like to thank the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Planning Institute for hosting this event, on what is a significant day for planning globally.

President SoLGM, Clare Hadley, Vice Presidents Ross McLeod and Athol Stephens, Chief Executive Karen Thomas, other members of the SoLGM Executive Committee, ladies and gentlemen – thank you for the opportunity to speak to you this afternoon.

Before I begin, I would also like to acknowledge SoLGM’s recently retired Chief Executive, David Smith, for his work over the past 13 years.

My term as Minister of Local Government ends shortly.  I see I am leaving in good company, with David Smith and LGNZ’s Eugene Bowen.

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has put Hamilton City Council on notice. Should progress in addressing the Audit New Zealand’s recommendations be insufficient, the Government will look at a review process that could lead to the appointment of commissioners.

“I am very concerned about the findings of the Audit New Zealand report into the Council’s handling of the V8 supercar races.  The report highlighted a number of issues with the Council’s expenditure on the races, governance structures and reporting processes.

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced that Cabinet had agreed to an Order in Council which allows Canterbury based councils to defer their long-term planning and accountability responsibilities.

“Under this Order, Christchurch City Council, Canterbury Regional Council, Selwyn District Council, and Waimakariri District Council can choose to defer adopting a new long term plan until 2013,” Mr Hide said. 

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced the Government has advanced a further $500,000 of the Crown’s $5 million contribution towards establishing the Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA).

The Agency will be set up under the Local Government Borrowing Act which received Royal assent on 19 September and which deals with the regulatory and tax implications for setting up the Agency.

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today welcomed the introduction of the Local Electoral Amendment Bill to Parliament, prior to its dissolution on 20 October 2011.

Mr Speaker, I move that the Local Government Borrowing Bill and Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 Amendment Bill be now read a third time.

The purpose of the Local Government Borrowing Bill is to assist local authorities to borrow funds at lower interest rates than they can currently achieve.  The Bill will achieve this by facilitating the establishment and operation of the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency. 

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today met with Mayor Mr Neil Tiller, Chief Executive Jack McKerchar and a representative of Local Government New Zealand following a number of requests from groups and individuals for government intervention in the Kaipara District Council.

“While I am sympathetic to people’s concerns I am strongly of the belief that it is preferable for local issues to be resolved locally and therefore I do not see a need to intervene at this time,” Mr Hide said.

Mr Speaker, I move that the Local Government Borrowing Bill be now read a second time.

This Bill is to facilitate the establishment and operation of a new company, the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency.  The Funding Agency will issue local government bonds to investors and on-lend the funds raised to participating local authorities to meet their funding needs.  This pooled approach will assist local authorities to borrow funds at lower interest rates than they can currently achieve. 

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced the first stage of a review of the Local Authorities (Members’ Interests) Act 1968, the legislation which governs how conflict of interest rules are managed for members of local councils.

“The current rules are out of step with the way local government now operates,” Mr Hide said.

President John Burton, Members of the University Club, ladies and gentlemen - thank you for inviting me to join you here this afternoon.

Today I am going to talk to you about one of the largest restructurings, public or private, ever attempted in Australasia. I am going to talk to you about the amalgamation of eight sizeable councils to create one single organisation – the new Auckland Council. 

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced the addition of the Perro de Presa Canario (commonly referred to as Presa Canario) breed of dog to the list of dogs banned from importation into New Zealand.  The breeds and types of dog banned are listed Schedule 4 of the Dog Control Act 1996.

“The tendency of the Presa Canario to exhibit aggressive behaviour or attack, and the size and strength of the breed, makes it of particular concern because of the seriousness of the injuries it could inflict,” Mr Hide said.

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced the appointment of Anne Carter as a new member of the Local Government Commission.

“Ms Carter is an experienced former public servant with particular focus on strategy development, policy formation, and implementation of government programmes at both a national and local level,” Mr Hide said.

President Roger, ladies and gentlemen - good afternoon.  Thank you for inviting me to your meeting today.

My talk today is about Auckland, its future and the recent amalgamation of eight councils to create one single organisation – the new Auckland Council.  I would also like to touch on what we need to reverse the ever-increasing burden of red tape that is bedevilling New Zealand.

President of LGNZ Lawrence Yule, Chief Executive Eugene Bowen, other members of the LGNZ National Council, ladies and gentlemen – thank you for the opportunity to speak to you this afternoon.  I would like to thank Local Government New Zealand for organising this event and bringing us all together. 

This looks to be my last Local Government New Zealand National Conference.  There’s been regime change in my own Party and my time in politics appears over.

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today announced the appointment of Basil Morrison to the position of Chair of the Local Government Commission. 

“Mr Morrison has considerable experience in local government, having been Chairman of the Ohinemuri County Council, Mayor of Hauraki District, a member of the Waikato Regional Council, Chair of Local Government New Zealand and Chair and Vice Chair of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum from 2005 to 2009,” Minister Hide said. 

Crane Association President Grant Moffat, Chief Executive Ian Grooby, ladies and gentlemen - good morning to you all.

It’s a pleasure to be here with you once again to talk to you as Minister of Local Government.

Let me begin by acknowledging your contribution to our nation’s critical infrastructure.  And in particular, your support of crane operators and your campaign for increased training and safety standards.

The government has agreed to prepare an order in council changing Christchurch City Council’s annual planning and accountability responsibilities, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Local Government Minister Rodney Hide announced today.

"The primary goal of this order in council will be to condense the public consultation period for the council's draft 2011/12 annual plan so they can focus on getting on with the recovery process in Canterbury," Mr Brownlee said.

The seaward boundaries of 23 territorial authorities have been standardised to the mean low water springs (low tide mark) to provide nationally consistent seaward boundaries for all 53 coastal authorities, says Associate Local Government Minister John Carter.

“The key benefit of this jurisdiction extension is that it will allow all territorial authorities to locally regulate public nuisances and safety issues on beaches where issues arise,” said Mr Carter.

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today welcomed Auckland Council’s announcement that rates across the region will rise by only 3.7 per cent - down from a projected average increase of 9.3 per cent under the old eight council structure.

“This below inflation rate increase was achieved through $81 million in efficiencies and savings, and is greater than the conservative estimate of $48 million identified by the Auckland Transition Agency in its planning document,” Mr Hide said.

Speech to New Zealand Community Boards Conference; Energy Events Centre, Government Gardens, Queens Drive, Rotorua; May 6 2011

LGNZ Chief Executive Eugene Bowen, Chair of the New Zealand Community Boards Executive Committee Mike Cohen, Mayors, Councillors, Community Board Members, ladies and gentlemen - good afternoon and thank you for inviting me to speak today at your seventh Community Boards’ Conference.

Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide today tabled the final report of the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) in Parliament which details the work the agency did to form the new single Auckland Council.

“This report is an important historical document, and details the change management process used by the ATA for the biggest change process that local government in New Zealand has ever seen," Mr Hide said.

A Bill setting up a new local government funding agency is expected to be introduced to Parliament shortly, according to Finance Minister Bill English and Local Government Minister Rodney Hide.

“The agency will lower the overall cost of borrowing for all councils by allowing a co-operative approach to raising finance,” Mr Hide said. “It is estimated the agency could save local authorities collectively around $25 million a year.”

Minister of Local Government and Chair of the Cabinet Committee for Implementation of Auckland Governance Reforms Rodney Hide today released papers setting out the Government’s aspirations for Auckland, in support of the Auckland Council’s public consultation phase for the development of its first spatial plan.