When voters know more about candidates and their policies, and when the issues are more relevant, local democracy thrives.
- Honorary Research Associate, School of Built Environment, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University
Rather than get rid of regional councils, maybe the government should look at expanding their role to deliver core services – something common in many other countries.
If New Zealand wants to see real improvement in community-level services and infrastructure, we need to finally make a decision on the true purpose of regional, city and district councils.
Resource laws and processes have tried to keep politics out of decision making. But this technocratic approach carries its own problems. The challenge is getting the balance right.
Under the new Natural and Built Environments Act, it will take ten years to phase out the old Resource Management Act. Parties promising reform will likely end up presiding over the status quo.
Evidence shows New Zealand’s first world war soldiers killed both surrendering and wounded German soldiers. Their actions, condoned at the highest level, cast a long shadow.
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