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Local Government Act 2002

Structure and reorganisation of local government - Local Government Commission

31A: Minister's expectations of Commission in relation to local government reorganisation

You could also call this:

“The Minister can tell the Commission what to do when changing how local councils work”

The Minister can tell the Commission in writing what they expect it to do when it comes to changing how local governments are set up. The Minister needs to explain why they have these expectations.

The Minister can say things like how fast they want the Commission to finish certain tasks, or which requests to change local governments are more important than others.

Before the Minister tells the Commission what they expect, they must talk to the Commission first. They can also talk to other people if they think it’s a good idea.

The Commission must put the Minister’s expectations on their website. They also need to say how these expectations will change the way they do their job.

When the Commission reports back to the Minister, they have to explain how well they met these expectations.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM4931203.

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Part 3 Structure and reorganisation of local government
Local Government Commission

31AMinister's expectations of Commission in relation to local government reorganisation

  1. The Minister may, by notice in writing to the Commission, specify expectations relating to the Commission's performance of its functions and exercise of its powers under Schedule 3 or 3A.

  2. The Minister must state in the notice the Minister’s objectives in respect of the expectations specified in the notice.

  3. Without limiting subsection (1), the Minister may specify—

  4. the time frames within which the Commission is expected to complete specified matters:
    1. which reorganisation applications are to be regarded by the Commission as having a higher priority.

      1. Before specifying expectations under this section, the Minister—

      2. must consult the Commission; and
        1. may consult any other persons or organisations that the Minister considers appropriate to consult.

          1. The Commission must publish, on its Internet site,—

          2. any expectations given to it by the Minister under subsection (1); and
            1. a statement of the impact that meeting those expectations will have on the performance of its functions and exercise of its powers under Schedule 3 or 3A.

              1. The Commission must, in its report to the Minister under clause 31 of Schedule 4, describe how and the extent to which it has met the expectations specified under subsection (1).

              Notes
              • Section 31A: inserted, on , by section 19 of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).
              • Section 31A(1): amended, on , by section 43(1) of the Local Government Electoral Legislation Act 2023 (2023 No 57).
              • Section 31A(1): amended, on , by section 17(1) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 54).
              • Section 31A(1A): inserted, on , by section 17(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 54).
              • Section 31A(3): amended, on , by section 17(1) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 54).
              • Section 31A(4)(a): amended, on , by section 17(1) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 54).
              • Section 31A(4)(b): amended, on , by section 43(2) of the Local Government Electoral Legislation Act 2023 (2023 No 57).
              • Section 31A(4)(b): amended, on , by section 17(1) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 54).
              • Section 31A(5): amended, on , by section 17(1) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 54).