By Steve Mooney
They might be the second tier in New Zealand’s system of government but local and regional councils do much of the heavy lifting on the essential services which keep the economy moving and households functioning.
Your council ensures that consistent standards are in place to keep people safe and secure.
They keep you safe from dodgy food, ensure that you don’t get constant gridlock in the cities, and that ships berth at wharves and not on reefs.
Water comes in, and it goes out. The roads are maintained, bus services organised, and the rubbish removed. All those things you don’t notice until they don’t happen.
The current structure of local government in New Zealand arose out of major nation-wide local government reforms that were carried out in the late 1980s.
These reforms replaced the old system of boroughs, towns, and counties, of which there were around 850, with 86 regional councils and territorial authorities.
Today there are 78 councils across New Zealand comprised of 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities (of which 6 are unitary authorities, 13 are city councils, and 53 are district councils).
These are collectively referred to as “local authorities” and are collectively a major custodian of services all across New Zealand.
It is an impressive list. Territorial authorities (district and city councils) are responsible for delivering infrastructure services such as roading, water supply, wastewater and stormwater services; refuse collection and disposal and recycling services; community facilities such as parks, reserves, libraries, swimming pools and community centres; resource management planning; and bylaw-making powers of specific matters including public health and safety, protection against nuisances, and minimising the potential for offensive behaviour in public places.
In 2024, councils across the country were responsible for $NZ217 billion worth of assets and employed 39,400 staff. In 2022/2023, they had a collective spending power of $NZ20 billion.
Local government is not all about bureaucracy and politics of course – there are thousands of people across New Zealand working within local government to ensure that their communities are the best they can possibly be.
Councils also work closely with central government and other organisations, public bodies, businesses and citizens and are the first port of call when things go wrong through local civil defence and emergency management.
Local governments are responsible for facilitating ongoing growth of their district or city especially in areas such as transport, resource management, bylaw making, urban design, community and social, financial planning, and economic development. Councils liaise with key community groups, conduct effective consultations and monitors and implement these policies and plans effectively.
Since its inception in 1905, forerunners to IPWEA today, were originally established to enhance the quality of life in communities through the application of continuous improvement and best practice principles to all aspects of public works and services, infrastructure planning, delivery and operations.
This intent continues today through Resources and Professional Development Programmes designed to support Public Works Engineers.
Able and strong management ensures that strategies and structures are in place for councils to achieve the vision for their communities.
Councils have people who look after operational performance, implement solutions to make the organisation achieve its outcomes and provide structures and systems in place to better serve the community.
We also need to remember that local government is essentially a democratic service. It is meant to make local decision-making accessible to the public and elected members are expected to represent the views and needs of their constituents.
Councils apply a vast number of rules and regulations that central government has decreed, but many of its these and the actions of councils arise from the expressed wishes of their community.
Elected members in local government, including mayors and councillors are responsible for representing their communities and ensuring their well-being. They have both representative and governance roles, with the balance varying depending on their specific position.
Local government professionals and their councillors also need to have a tight relationship, and they can’t do their jobs without each other.
Officials are also under an obligation to provide neutral, apolitical advice to their elected members and take robust action on the decisions they make.
In 2025, infrastructure is a major focus in New Zealand and local governments are working with the national government in a renewed effort to overcome the nation’s infrastructure deficit.
Recently, the first National Policy Statement for Infrastructure was released to strengthen the guidance for local government on integrating consent and planning processes.
This will ensure that local governments continue to be on the front line in terms of infrastructure provision and management, and that is more engaged both with the national government and the communities they serve.
