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Local Government
Local government is a vital cog in the wheel of democracy. Local government is the major provider of many services to the people of New Zealand and has to understand the needs of the communities that it serves. It exists to provide its communities with essential services, like roading, sewerage and refuse collection, but also for the wellbeing of communities. For communities to flourish they need:
- Sustainable economic development and new jobs.
- A healthy and safe environment.
- Social cohesiveness.
- A vibrant and developing culture and identity.
- A stable political and economic climate.
Local Government has a profound role to play in securing these outcomes for all communities. Local Government New Zealand is the national voice of local government. It represents the diversity and local democracy of the metropolitan areas, the districts, the rural communities, and the regions of New Zealand .
Local Government is one of the two branches of government in New Zealand and while governed strictly by statutes, is accountable to communities.
Local authorities comprise:
- 12 regional councils
- 74 territorial authorities (consisting of 15 city councils and 59 district councils).
Under the current Local Government Act, Councils are subject to planning and management disciplines including:
- Preparing LTCCP forecasts, including funding, borrowing management and investment policies, in consultation with their communities.
- Reporting annually on performance in relation to plans.
- Adopting accrual accounting practices.
- Valuing their assets.
- Separating policy/regulatory from operational functions.
- Preparing policies and plans concerning other functions, especially resource management, land transport and biosecurity.
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Council's Role
Council's role has two essential elements. On one hand, it is required to provide the people of the South Waikato with responsible leadership. This means that it often has to make decisions that do not suit everybody – especially when they impact on people financially. On the other hand, it is there to represent the interests of all people. It has to consider and be respectful of the views, preferences and desires of the local community. It is our job to balance the community's wishes and dreams with our estimation of what can be afforded.
Council has a difficult balancing act – for every service that it provides for the community, and for every service that it would like to provide, it has to make sensible decisions about how to obtain the resources that will be needed.
Council's Mission Statement
"To use our collective knowledge and insight to provide visionary leadership and prudent stewardship in enabling a co-operative community approach towards achieving the District's vision.”
- Council offers unified representation, balancing the demands for change, stewardship and affordability.
- Dealings with customers and residents are professional and address real needs.
- The “right things” are done in the “right way” within the resources available.
- A high performing professional and satisfying work environment.
Council's Vision
To be recognised as a District with:
- A growing and vibrant community where cultural diversity is celebrated.
- A diverse sustainable economy that provides full employment.
- A safe and healthy society where people can achieve their goals.
- A pristine sustainable environment.
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The Four Wellbeings
Central Government's legislation towards effectively serving the people of New Zealand is focused around four central themes – the so-called “wellbeings” of our community: cultural, economic, social and environmental.
Cultural Wellbeing
- People stand proud in the District.
- Diversity is recognised and valued across all aspects of the life (educational, recreational, spiritual, social, etc).
Economic Wellbeing
- The District's traditional farming and forestry-based economy is sustained and leveraged.
- Economic diversification is encouraged with a particular focus harnessing technology advances and District flows – people, goods and water.
Social Wellbeing
- The District is an attractive, healthy and safe place in which to live and visit.
- People are provided with opportunities to develop and manage their own futures.
Environmental Wellbeing
- Threats to the environment from intensive land use, air and water pollution, waste and pests and other issues are proactively managed.
- People are encouraged to be more environmentally responsible.
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