Local Government Act 2002

Governance and management of local authorities and community boards - Local authorities - Governance and management

40: Local governance statements

You could also call this:

"What your local council does and how it works, in a statement for you to read"

Illustration for Local Government Act 2002

After a local election, you can find out what your local council does and how it works by reading its local governance statement. This statement includes information on what the council is responsible for, the laws that give it power, and its bylaws, including when they were made and last reviewed under section 158 or 159. The statement also explains how the council makes decisions and how you can have a say.

You can learn about the council's electoral system, representation arrangements, and members' roles and conduct by reading the statement. It also covers governance structures and processes, meeting processes under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, and consultation policies.

The council must make this statement public within six months of each election and update it as needed. The statement includes information on policies for working with Māori, the management structure, and systems for accessing public information and requesting official information.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM171856.


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Part 4Governance and management of local authorities and community boards
Local authorities: Governance and management

40Local governance statements

  1. A local authority must prepare and make publicly available, following the triennial general election of members, a local governance statement that includes information on—

  2. the functions, responsibilities, and activities of the local authority; and
    1. any local legislation that confers powers on the local authority; and
      1. the bylaws of the local authority, including for each bylaw, its title, a general description of it, when it was made, and, if applicable, the date of its last review under section 158 or 159; and
        1. the electoral system and the opportunity to change it; and
          1. representation arrangements, including the option of establishing Māori wards or constituencies, and the opportunity to change them; and
            1. members' roles and conduct (with specific reference to the applicable statutory requirements and code of conduct); and
              1. governance structures and processes, membership, and delegations; and
                1. meeting processes (with specific reference to the applicable provisions of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 and standing orders); and
                  1. consultation policies; and
                    1. policies for liaising with, and memoranda or agreements with, Māori; and
                      1. the management structure and the relationship between management and elected members; and
                        1. the remuneration and employment policy, if adopted; and
                          1. equal employment opportunities policy; and
                            1. key approved planning and policy documents and the process for their development and review; and
                              1. systems for public access to it and its elected members; and
                                1. processes for requests for official information.
                                  1. A local authority must comply with subsection (1) within 6 months after each triennial general election of members of the local authority.

                                  2. A local authority must update its governance statement as it considers appropriate.

                                  Notes
                                  • Section 40(1)(ba): inserted, on , by section 7 of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 26).
                                  • Section 40(1)(ja): inserted, on , by section 20 of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).