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Education Minister Hekia Parata and Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga today welcomed the release of dual language resources for Pasifika new entrant students.

The resources comprise 100 dual-language flip books, audio and online resources in five Pasifika languages – Samoan, Tongan, Tokelauan, Cook Islands Māori and Niuean – and English, as well as supporting materials for teachers and parents.

The Minister of Local Government Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has asked the Select Committee to extend the report back date for the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 2).

“This will enable more rigorous analysis of submissions and more constructive dialogue with the local government sector,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

“There were nearly 200 submissions on the Bill. Many contain details which need to be worked through with officials to ensure they will work.”

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga today welcomed the Auditor General’s report on how Auckland Council responds to complaints.

“The public needs to know that they can make complaints to public organisations such as Auckland Council and trust those complaints will be dealt with fairly and effectively,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

“The report is generally positive about the Council’s complaints processes. Overall, the number of complaints has fallen.”

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga today announced the appointment of Geoff Dangerfield as a temporary member of the Local Government Commission (LGC).

“The appointment of Mr Dangerfield will help the Commission consider reorganisation applications within Auckland. He has extensive public sector governance experience and a strong understanding of local government,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says. 

Mr Dangerfield is a former chief executive of both the New Zealand Transport Agency and the Ministry of Economic Development. 

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga is encouraging those thinking about standing in this year’s local elections to get their nominations in on time.

Nominations close in 24 hours, at midday tomorrow.

“Councils manage more than $96 billion in fixed assets and contribute more than $8 billion to New Zealand’s GDP each year. Good local governance is at the heart of the prosperity of local communities and growth at a national level,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

The Government is considering ways to improve the management of freedom camping which could include widening councils’ infringement powers, says local government Minister Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

Minister Lotu-Iiga is responding to reports that Christchurch City Council is consulting on a blanket ban on freedom camping in vehicles without self-contained toilet facilities.

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga is encouraged by progress made by local councils and communities in the wider Wellington region working with the Local Government Commission on the future of their local government structures.

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga today called for greater collaboration between local councils to meet future community needs.

“Local government is a critical building block for our national growth and prosperity. Councils manage more than $96 billion in fixed assets and provide essential infrastructure and planning for local communities.”

Minister Lotu-Iiga was addressing local government mayors, chairs, and chief executives from around the country at Local Government New Zealand’s annual conference in Dunedin.

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga today released the Government Response to the Rules Reduction Taskforce (RRT) “Loopy Rules” report.

The Taskforce was set up in 2015 to hear from people about what property related rules and regulations stop them from getting on with the job.

“The Taskforce report published in September 2015 provided a wealth of information about rules that New Zealanders found did not make sense or were inconsistently applied,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga challenged leaders at the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network (CSCN) meeting in London to urgently work with central governments on the challenges of global urbanisation.

The CSCN heard from agencies working across the globe that the increasing demands from more concentrated populations are outstripping the abilities of local governments to provide adequate infrastructure and services.

By 2050, more than 70 per cent of the world's population will be living in cities.

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga is encouraging more people to put their names forward for this year’s local authority elections.

“Local government is a critical building block for national growth and prosperity. Councils manage more than $96 billion in fixed assets and contribute more than $8 billion to New Zealand’s GDP each year,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Local Government Minister, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, leaves for London today to strengthen Commonwealth ties and share plans on local government reform.

Mr Lotu-Iiga will attend the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) Board meeting and the associated Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network meeting.

“This is an opportunity for New Zealand to strengthen relationships with our Commonwealth counterparts and to encourage best practice in local government across the Commonwealth,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

The Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 2) has passed its first reading this evening and has been referred to the Local Government and Environment Select committee.

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says “the Bill will enable more innovation and collaboration across local government to deliver better local services and infrastructure”.

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says Labour’s Meka Whaitiri should understand the Local Government Act before leaping in to the Auckland governance debate.

“Ms Whaitiri should read the Act. If she did she would understand the Local Government Commission has statutory responsibility for reorganisation applications. As the Minister of Local Government, I cannot intervene in this process,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says Labour’s Meka Whaitiri should understand the Local Government Act before leaping in to the Auckland governance debate.

“Ms Whaitiri should read the Act. If she did she would understand the Local Government Commission has statutory responsibility for reorganisation applications. As the Minister of Local Government, I cannot intervene in this process,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says today’s decision on Waiheke Island’s unitary authority proposal reinforces the need for local authority reforms.

The Local Government Commission announced today that the application to form a Waiheke Island unitary council would be treated as an alternative application to the process initiated by the North Rodney application to form a unitary authority. 

The Minister of Local Government Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says a roading and transport alliance in Northland is a step towards efficient shared services that will save ratepayers’ money.

The Chair of the Northland Mayoral Forum Sheryl Mai today announced the establishment of the Northland Transportation Alliance (NTA), a collaborative alliance for transportation and roading services in Northland. 

Central and local government come together in Wellington today for the 22nd forum involving the two sectors Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

“The Forum provides the highest level of engagement between central and local government, and is highly valued. It will be jointly chaired by the Prime Minister and the President of Local Government New Zealand, Lawrence Yule,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

The Minister of Local Government Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says Maori involvement with local government is being actively discussed by iwi leaders and councils.

Minister Lotu-Iiga met with the Iwi Chairs Forum at Whakarewarewa yesterday to present his Better Local Services reforms package

“The BLS reforms preserve existing arrangements under Treaty settlements and those specifically established under legislation.  For example, they protect arrangements such as co-governance or co-management in respect of the Rotorua Lakes and the Waikato River.

The Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has welcomed a commitment from the Canterbury Mayoral Forum to develop more shared services aimed at positioning the region for long-term, sustainable economic and social development.

The Minister met with Mayors and Chief Executives from Christchurch City Council and 9 district councils from Waitaki to Kaikoura and Environment Canterbury on Friday.

The Canterbury Mayoral Forum presented the range of collaborative commitments for the 2013 – 16 Triennium and proposals for the future.

Local Government Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga says today’s decision on North Rodney’s unitary authority proposal highlights the need for local authority reforms.

The Local Government Commission announced today that all of the Auckland Council area is affected by the Northern Action Group’s application to form a North Rodney unitary authority.

“The Local Government Commission is constrained by its current legislation and had little choice but to reach the decision that it has.” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says council amalgamations are still possible under new local government reforms. 

The Wellington City Council last night stepped away from starting to evaluate a merger with Porirua city because it believed the new legislation would remove the requirement for a public poll on council-led amalgamations.

Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga today announced reforms to the local government sector to enable councils to deliver better services for ratepayers.

Current local government structures limit the ability of 78 councils and 66 water authorities to work together to provide services and critical infrastructure.

The government remains committed to introducing legislation that will enable co-operation across councils, Local Government Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

“When councils need to work together to deliver better local services for their ratepayers, it should be easier for them to do so. At present it is difficult for functions and responsibilities to either be shared or transferred across local and regional councils,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.