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The report of the Local Government Efficiency Taskforce released today is an essential building block of the Government’s reform programme, says Local Government Minister David Carter.

The independent Taskforce was established earlier this year to look at improvements to local government consultation, planning and financial reporting practices.

Mr Carter says the Taskforce’s report will feed into the Better Local Government reform programme which aims to bring clarity to the role of councils, stronger governance and improved efficiency.

A bill implementing a programme to lift the performance and efficiency of local government has passed its third and final reading in Parliament.

Local Government Minister David Carter says the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill is an important milestone in progressing major reform of New Zealand’s local government sector.

New Zealand’s 78 local authorities make up 4% of GDP, spend $7.8 billion per year of public money and manage $120 billion worth of assets.

I move, that the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, local government is a crucial component of New Zealand’s economy. The 78 local authorities make up 4% of GDP, spend $7.5 billion per year of public money, and manage around $120 billion worth of public assets.

But behind these numbers the simple fact is that most New Zealanders are affected by the decisions and actions of their council on a daily basis, and are certainly affected when they receive their quarterly rates bills.

A bill that will strengthen the Local Electoral Act, including the rules around donations, has passed its first reading in Parliament.

Local Government Minister David Carter says the Local Electoral Amendment Bill No 2 will provide greater efficiency and transparency around the conduct of local elections.

“The Bill will bring the Local Electoral Act closer into line with the Electoral Act which governs parliamentary elections and, in doing so help build trust in the local electoral system.”

Local Government Minister David Carter has today announced an independent expert advisory group to help local government provide more cost effective infrastructure.

The eight-member group is one of the initiatives outlined in the Better Local Government reform programme announced earlier this year.

Mr Carter says the Local Government Infrastructure Efficiency Expert Advisory Group will focus on reducing the cost of quality local government infrastructure.

A bill extending commissioner governance of Environment Canterbury beyond the 2013 local government elections has passed its first reading in Parliament.

Local Government Minister David Carter says the current Commissioners have made significant progress in resolving systemic issues within Environment Canterbury and addressing urgent issues with water management in the region.

However, speaking to the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill, Mr Carter said the job is not yet complete.

Mr Speaker, I move that the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Local Government and Environment Committee to consider the Bill.

At the appropriate time, I intend to move that the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill be considered by the Local Government and Environment Committee and that the Committee present its final report to the House on or before 30 January 2013.

Local Government Minister David Carter has announced proposed changes to the donation provisions of the Local Electoral Act.

Mr Carter says the proposed amendments reflect growing public concern about transparency and accountability in relation to candidate donations, and in particular anonymous donations.

“The amendments will limit the size of anonymous donations a candidate can keep to $1500, revise the definition of “anonymous”, increase disclosure, reporting and recording obligations and introduce penalties for non-compliance.

Commissioners will continue to govern Environment Canterbury after the 2013 local authority elections, Local Government Minister David Carter and Environment Minister Amy Adams announced today.

Commissioners were appointed in 2010 following a critical external review of Environment Canterbury’s performance. Legislation empowering the governance arrangements states that their term was to end at the local government elections in 2013.

Local Government Minister David Carter today released a report into the Kaipara District Council and announced the appointment of four commissioners to replace the elected councillors.

The review of Kaipara Council’s performance by the government-appointed Kaipara Review Team led to the Council requesting commissioners take over governance of the district. Appointing commissioners under the Local Government Act was also the review team’s central recommendation.

Commissioners are to be appointed to run Kaipara District following a request from the Council, Local Government Minister David Carter has announced.

The Kaipara District Council resolved today to request the appointment of independent commissioners after being briefed by the government-appointed review team on an interim report due to the Minister this week.

A number of key proposals in Auckland Council’s first Auckland Plan are broadly aligned with the Government’s priorities, but there are still some areas of concern, says Local Government Minister David Carter.

Senior Ministers met with the Auckland Mayor and Councillors today for the annual Auckland Central Government/Local Government Forum to discuss a range of issues, including the Government’s response to the Auckland Plan.

It’s a pleasure to be here in Queenstown to speak with you all today about the Better Local Government reform programme.

I’d like to explain what we are aiming to achieve, where we have got to so far, and where to next.

Welcome to the New Zealand Institute of Forestry Conference.

It’s a pleasure to be opening your conference here in Christchurch and thank you, delegates, for attending and supporting Canterbury’s economy.

Looking around the city, you will see that we are entering a major rebuilding phase.

I would like to acknowledge your President Bruce Wills, Vice-President William Rolleston, Chief Executive Conor English, provincial presidents and delegates.

I am going to touch on topics across both my Primary Industries and Local Government portfolios and I am happy to take questions from you shortly.

I know you’ve just had a session on Local Government but I’d like to explain briefly what’s driving the reforms from the Government’s point of view.

The contract for the Crown Observer appointed to assist the Christchurch City Council is to end on 1 July, Local Government Minister David Carter said today.

“The appointment of Kerry Marshall in January aimed to rebuild the professional relationships between the Mayor, Councillors and staff and to provide guidance on governance and decision-making.

“The Council and the Crown Observer have worked together positively and I am encouraged by the progress made.

The Government has approved an Order in Council to give Christchurch City Council more flexibility in setting rates, Local Government Minister David Carter announced today.

“Under this Order, Christchurch City Council will be able to reassess rates during the year, rather than only at the start of the financial year,” says Mr Carter.

“The Canterbury earthquakes have had a significant impact on the nature and speed of building activity in Christchurch, but this cannot be reflected in the current rating system.

Local Government Minister David Carter has today announced the members of a review team to assist the Kaipara District Council.

The team is to be chaired by Northland businessman and farmer Greg Gent, and he is joined by two people with considerable local government experience, Leigh Auton and Peter Tennent.

“Kaipara District Council is dealing with a number of serious issues. It sought help from the Government and the wider local government sector which has led to the appointment of this review team,” says Mr Carter.

A Bill to implement the first steps of a significant reform programme for the local government sector passed its first reading in Parliament today.

Local Government Minister David Carter says the Government recognises that many councils are making hard decisions in the face of increasing cost pressures, but are constrained by the current legal framework.

Mr Speaker, I move that the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Local Government and Environment Committee to consider the bill.

At the appropriate time I intend to move that the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill be reported to the House by 15 October 2012.

Local Government Minister David Carter has announced an independent taskforce to help build greater efficiency within the local government framework.

The eight-member taskforce is one of the initiatives outlined in the Better Local Government reform programme announced earlier this year.

“The Local Government Efficiency Taskforce will focus on improvements to local government consultation, planning and financial reporting requirements and practices,” says Mr Carter.

Local Government Minister David Carter is to appoint a review team to assist the Kaipara District Council.

“It has become apparent that the Kaipara District Council is dealing with some serious issues that it cannot cope with alone,” says Mr Carter.

“The Council has sought help from central government and the wider local government sector. We have agreed to work with the Council and Local Government New Zealand to set up a small team to assist Kaipara to work through its issues.