About local government in Aotearoa New Zealand
There are 78 councils across the country working every day to make sure the communities they represent run smoothly and efficiently.
Local government is not all about bureaucracy and politics – there are thousands of people across New Zealand working within local government to ensure their communities are the best they can possibly be. From your local librarians, building inspectors and swimming pool lifeguards to the Chief Executive, everyone working for councils is focused on making sure their area is a great place to live, play and visit.
Councils provide a huge range of services to the communities they serve – maintaining efficient infrastructure for our roads and water pipes, planning for the future, and providing facilities to support and enhance community well-being.
How local government affects you
Local government operations affect you every day; and you may not even be aware of it.
There are many aspects of your daily life that wouldn’t be able to function without the work of local government staff, from the moment you wake up and brush your teeth, have a shower and flush the toilet, to taking the bus to work or school, paying for your parking and having your rubbish collected from the side of the street each week.
None of those things could happen without your council – and the staff working within them.
Local government promotes community well-being
Councils are closely involved in promoting community well-being through arts, community and recreation services. Your council maintains public libraries, parks, public swimming pools, sports grounds and museums. Your council also looks after youth development, community relationships, business development, and holds events to encourage community participation.
Local government makes sure everything works
Water comes in, and it goes out, roads are maintained, bus services are organised, and rubbish is removed. These are all the things you don’t notice until they don’t happen! Planning, developing and maintaining local infrastructure is a major aspect of council work.
Local government plans for the future
Councils are responsible for facilitating the ongoing growth of your district or city especially in areas such as transport, resource management, bylaw making, urban design, community and social well-being, financial planning, and economic development. Councils liaise with key community groups, conduct effective consultations, implement policies and plans, and monitor the outcomes.
Local government looks after the environment
Councils are involved in weed control, controlling chemical spills, protecting native species, improving air quality, and mapping sites of significance to Māori, as well as areas with high conservation and heritage values.
Local government is often in the position of being a referee between people wishing to develop and use land, and others who oppose a development, or have concerns about the impacts of activities on the environment.
Local government serves the community
Your council ensures that consistent standards are in place to keep people safe and secure. They keep you safe from dodgy food, ensure you don’t get constant gridlock in the cities, or that ships berth safely. Councils apply a vast number of rules and regulations that central government has decreed, and many others reflect feedback from their community.
Local government manages resources
Able and strong management ensures that strategies and structures are in place for your council to achieve the vision for your community. Councils include people who look after operational performance, implement solutions to make the organisation achieve its outcomes, and ensure structures and systems are in place to better serve the community.
Want to find out more?
We offer the How Local Government Works e-learning module which will teach you more about what local government does and how it works.
This is an excellent introduction and refresher for new and existing employees to gain a solid practical understanding of the legislative environment of local government.