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LOCAL GOVERNMENT
INTRODUCTION
Local government, as the exercise of democracy at the local level, is a fundamental part of New Zealand's governmental structures. However, the nature and scope of its role has changed significantly over time, primarily as central government has continued to devolve increased legislated responsibilities to councils.
New Zealand First believes that the role of local government must be aimed at achieving the best return for ratepayer and taxpayer money. This must be based on the world-class provision of core local government services, but with limits on non-core activities which add to the rates burden. New Zealand First believes the time has arrived to ask the very serious questions of why do we rate, on whom and who benefits from these rates?
PLANS
New Zealand First will:
- conduct a nationwide study into the inter-relationship between regional and local councils and community boards, exploring both their functions and relevance;
- encourage communities of interest to explore the feasibility of merging some local body entities in the interests of getting better value for money for ratepayers;
- reduce the layers of bureaucracy which have increasingly been superimposed onto local government;
- review the legislative burden that central government has placed on local government and the impact of this on ratepayers, in particular, compliance cost imposed by central government;
- explore options to reduce the rates encumbrance on seniors with a fixed income;
- fine tune the local government role in the Resource Management Act (RMA) process (See RMA policy for more detail);
- review the balance between statutory requirements of local government, with its discretionary decision-making processes;
- ensure that there is one single voting mechanism across all local authorities - be it simple plurality or Single Transferable Vote (STV) to limit voter confusion;
- remove the provision of separate wards based on race in local government;
- encourage local government use of the community wage scheme for conservation and weed and pest control activities, and for beautification and maintenance of waterways, beaches, parks and roadsides;
- review the rating system, including GST on rates, the rating of schools for sewerage disposal and the proportion of rates spent on roading;
- clarify the status of local government in relation to GE issues and central government regulations of GE;
- integrate emergency services into a single Ministry of Emergency Services. Civil Defence, Police, Fire, Ambulance will share facilities, stations, radio communication facilities, vehicles and civilian support staff;
- actively discourage local councils from selling off key strategic assets including pensioner housing;
- develop sustainable national policies on water and air quality, but with sufficient flexibility to address local circumstances;
- promote the use of the most up-to-date technologies and international experience in tracking water use patterns, thereby ensuring that policy decisions are based on sound science;
- encourage strategies for soil use, which both encourage its economic potential and limits their environmental impact;
- urgently advance work on the development of rubbish disposal alternatives (including exploring international experience);
- develop plans and procedures to handle waste water in rural areas;
- put in place adequate policy frameworks to deal with the issue of contaminated sites; and,
- ensure that local councils are able to adequately address the issue of aquaculture to ensure the industry is able to flourish within the legislative framework.
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