Have you ever wondered how the role of a local government manager differs in Canada, the United States, or Australia? Applications for our 2021 Overseas Manager Exchanges are now open and these are an opportunity to partner with a local government manager in another country to learn first-hand the challenges faced by each other’s organisations. We spoke with Bob Vine who went on a Study Tour to the UK in 1978, and Emma Davis who went on an Overseas Manager Exchange to the United States in 2019 to find out how the exchanges have evolved over the years. Both describe their experiences as life-changing.
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Briefing to the Incoming Minister
In November, we provided a Briefing to the Incoming Minister of Local Government, Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Managing for Community Well-being, followed by Tuning up the Engine, an outline potential changes to local government law. The Briefing focuses on the ‘big issues’ facing the sector including promoting well-being, water reform, climate change, housing, funding and accountability, civics education, and workforce issues. These are outline below:
Dr Ganesh Nana appointed as the next Chair of the Productivity Commission
We are delighted to hear that BERL Research Director and former Chief Economist, Dr Ganesh Nana, has been appointed to be the next Chair of the Productivity Commission from February 2021.
We are now known as Taituarā
The NZ Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM) will now be known as Taituarā — Local Government Professionals Aotearoa (you can hear the correct pronunciation here).
Local Government priorities – an overview of the common themes in the post-election briefings
The election period is over, the Ministers have their feet under the table and, in the week before Christmas, the Government released all of the briefings that departments provided to Ministers. Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) and Taituarā — Local Government Professionals Aotearoa also provided briefings – in our case to the Minister of Local Government, and in LGNZ’s case a cross-portfolio briefing to the Government as a whole.
From the Taituarā archives on International Women’s Day
They say that a picture speaks a thousand words and this photograph from 1927 from the Taituarā – Local Government Professionals Aotearoa archives indeed says a lot about gender representation at the top echelons of local government in New Zealand.
Podcast: Helen Rice speaks with Karen Thomas, Chief Executive of Taituarā
In Rice Speir Radio’s latest podcast Taituarā Chief Executive, Karen Thomas, talks with Helen Rice about Taituarā and its role within the local government sector in New Zealand. Karen also shares a little about herself and her own varied leadership experiences.
Taituarā welcomes a new Executive Committee
We are delighted to advise you that Taituarā — Local Government Professionals Aotearoa has new members in its Executive Committee, starting 1 July 2021. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude for the fantastic mahi that three departing members have contributed to our organisation over the past three years. Sanchia Jacobs who is Chief
Sharing of national death information with local authorities
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is currently consulting on a proposal to share death information with local authorities. Currently there is no automatic means that enables councils to know when a resident has died, and so it could be as haphazard as council staff checking the death notices in the local newspaper. Ultimately, the aim of this proposal is to make things a little easier for bereaved families by offering a joined-up government-wide approach.
CERT NZ: your one-stop shop for cybersecurity advice
A far-sighted RNZ article in March 2021 suggested that there is good protection from hacking at central government level, though local councils, DHBs and medium scale businesses are at greater risk. As Waikato DHB now recovers from Aotearoa New Zealand’s biggest-ever cyber attack, we suggest all councils and their staff become familiar with CERT NZ, our official first port-of-call for cybersecurity prevention and response.