Welcome to the newly formatted Central/Local Government Partnerships Group Update. In addition to the visits of our Directors  to their assigned local government zones, and other regular contacts, we aim to provide this briefing every few months to summarise the latest developments in our work programmes. 

A month later we formed a small team of three Directors, looking to do something different with DIA’s role with local government.

It’s appropriate that the Three Waters Review was our foundational project – water is the essence of life and core to the work of local authorities.  Since then the project focus has expanded to encompass the Digital Local Government Partnership, leading on Infrastructure Funding and Financing, rethinking Governance for Wellbeing, collaborating with the sector on Community Resilience in the face of Natural Hazards and Climate Change, and leading the Queenstown Partnership with other government agencies and QLDC.  This is not an exhaustive list but it’s indicative of the big issues we have been prepared to tackle!

Notwithstanding all this, I have always been clear that our point of difference is that we get out of Wellington and spend time with you in your communities.  We can’t do our work in Wellington effectively if we are not connected to the reality of your worlds.  Our work is strengthened by our connections with you. That is our kaupapa.

I am very sorry to be leaving at this time – my secondment from the Prime Minister’s Department ends at Christmas.  I have met many wonderful people in local government, and I have made some firm friendships.  As I reflect on the reality of the Partnerships Group continuing beyond my time with them, I am reminded of the words of a very wise Kaumatua:

Kua tawhiti ā tātou haerenga ki te kore e haere tonu
He tino nui rawa ā tātou mahi kia kore e mahi nui tonu

We have come too far not to go further
We have done too much not to do more

James Clendon Tai (Hemi) Henare

It has been an immense privilege to forge new ways of working in the local government arena.  I shall observe with interest the future successes of the Partnerships Group as they continue to partner with local government to achieve improved outcomes for communities.
Haere rā. Helen

Since then, we have held workshops on these issues with two groups of experienced and innovative local government practitioners and representatives of LGNZ and SOLGM.  These have been facilitated by former Deputy Mayor of Auckland Penny Hulse and have been rich and constructive conversations. With the assistance of Bonita Bingham, we have also started a parallel conversation on these issues with Māori local government practitioners, iwi and Māori organisations.

We discussed the key ideas emerging from the working groups with a range of Chief Executives in November and will be wrapping all that information into a Christmas briefing for the Minister.  We expect her to discuss these ideas with colleagues early in 2020 so that we can continue to progress towards specific initiatives and policy options in conjunction with the sector.

Although this project has very similar goals and objectives to LGNZ’s localism project, the Minister has been clear that she does not see devolution as the answer and is a seeking options that promote a more nuanced, collaborative approach to lifting community wellbeing.

Plenty and Franz Josef, and is also focusing on the longer-term challenges of climate change adaptation.

In June 2019, the Central and Local Government Forum agreed to the development of a joint work programme on Community Resilience. A group of Community Resilience Ministers now meets regularly and is supported by a Steering Group of senior central and local government leaders. The programme will also engage with iwi/Māori.

The work programme comprises five work streams including:

• information to support better decision making;
• enhanced use of risk assessment;
• enabling better decision making in the resource management system;
• insurance markets and risk financing;
• principles and approaches to funding and financing.

The focus of the next phase of the work programme is the management of flood risk.

The legislation enabling the regulator,and the regulatory regime that will enact its remit are progressing as two separate Bills: Taumata Arowai -- Water Services Regulator Bill and the Water Services Bill respectively. The first has just been introduced and the second will be introduced  in early 2020. They will then follow the usual Parliamentary process, including select committee consideration with its opportunity for public submissions. The Water Services Regulator Bill, now available on the Parliamentary website, is expected to be enacted in or about August 2020, conferring legal status on the regulator.

To ensure the new water services regulator, Taumata Arowai, is able to begin operating as soon as possible following enactment, an establishment unit within DIA has the process of designing and “building’’ the regulator. It is hoped Taumata Arowai will be up and running in about 18 months. Until such time, regulatory responsibility for drinking water will remain with the Ministry of Health. As part of its establishment mandate the unit will be looking to understand better, and compile information on, the full range and complexities of all drinking water suppliers. It will want to liaise with councils on this. We will also be looking to establish a rural drinking water advisory group to assist the unit with the characteristics and challenges of this sector.

We are enjoying working with councils and regions on service delivery and funding challenges, and look forward to continuing this in 2020. 

We are also engaging with regional groupings that are considering how sharing of services could look in their region. There is now some funding available to assist with the process on a case-by-case basis.

Recent documents posted to the Three Waters Review webpage (http://www.dia.govt.nz/Three-Waters-Review)  include a report  on cost estimates for upgrading wastewater systems to reduce overflows and improve the quality of discharges to the coast; and a national stocktake of compliance, monitoring and enforcement practices for wastewater.

As many of you will be aware, we have had our own work programme underway to assist the Government in its response to the Inquiry. Equally, the Commission makes recommendations across a range of areas in which the CLGP Group is actively working and have funding and financing components including: three waters regulation and infrastructure, community resilience against the impacts of climate change and natural hazards, and potential funding alternatives. We will want to consider how the Inquiry report intersects with these programmes as we assist the Government. It is expected to respond to the report in the first few months of next year. The Commission’s report can be read on its website.

through the policy and then over the last few months, drafting the legislation – now publicly available.  We have worked closely with High Growth Councils on this, especially Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Queenstown Lakes. Their input has been invaluable to the team of Michael Chatterley, Francesca Algie and Keith Miller.  It would be great if all Councils could review the draft legislation and send any comments or questions to us, as well as submitting through the Select Committee process next year.

 A review of the existing funding tools to fund growth related infrastructure
primarily targeted rates and development contributions.
Over the last few months Henry Dowler and Isaac Ryan have met with a number of Councils to gather issues and discuss possible solutions.  We also circulated an issues paper/discussion document.  The team is now working through the feedback and will be back out talking to the sector next year on options. This work will also form part of the Government’s response to the Productivity Commission Inquiry.

Spatial Planning is one of the five pillars of the UGA and one of the pieces of work is with Queenstown Lakes District Council including the development of a 30-year spatial plan alongside a 10-year investment plan. These will support the planning and funding required for growth and infrastructure necessary to support the huge visitor numbers to the district. Part of this is consideration of a visitor accommodation levy which, following the QLDC-led referendum showing overwhelming local support, is expected to be progressed through a local Bill.

Hamilton 2 Auckland Corridor partnership
(led by Partnership Director Richard Ward)

This links closely with the wider Urban Growth Agenda and the formal partnership was signed in August this year.  Since then, there has been substantial work underway across the six themes and the 13 priority projects – including the Waikato Spatial Plan and the Sub-Regional Waters Project.  A focus for our team has been on the implementation and the delivery of the programme with work just getting underway in this area.

New initiative aimed at enhancing relationships between local government and iwi/Maori
(led by Partnership Director Justine Smith)

Local government is charged with the responsibility to promote opportunities for Māori to contribute to its decision-making processes.  Local government also holds responsibility for the effective implementation of Treaty settlement redress.  A positive, strategic relationship between local authorities and Māori contributes to building strong prosperous regions and communities. The CLGP team is developing a work programme intended to better support the local government and iwi/Māori relationship.

Comprehensive review of the Resource Management System 
(DIA input led by Partnership Director Warren Ulusele) 

This is a significant Government review of our current planning system, led by the Ministry for the Environment, that will have implications for local government. An independent panel, led by a retired Environment Court Judge, has been commissioned to make recommendations to Government in 2020. We are co-ordinating a team from DIA providing input into various workstreams established to support the Panel and, in particular, will be advising on integration with the LGA, spatial planning, natural hazard resilience and reducing complexity across the RM system.  

Contacts:

A reminder to keep an eye on our CLGP page on the DIA website for various papers and presentations, link is here:
https://www.dia.govt.nz/Central-Local-Government-Partnership 

Justine Smith

Justine.smith@dia.govt.nz                      027 282 9976
Tai Tokerau/Auckland (LGNZ Zone 1) – Community Wellbeing; Local Government/Iwi Relationships (including bilingual towns and cities)

Richard Ward
richard.ward@dia.govt.nz                      021 826 149
Waikato/Bay of Plenty (LGNZ Zone 2) – Regional Development/Provincial Growth Fund, Infrastructure funding and financing

Michael Lovett
michael.lovett@dia.govt.nz                    021 243 9756
Central North Island (LGNZ Zone 3) – Digital Local Government Partnership; Inquiry into Funding of Local Government; Community Resilience

Paul Barker
paul.barker@dia.govt.nz                        027 610 7508
Greater Wellington Region (LGNZ Zone 4) – Community resilience (including natural hazards and climate change adaptation); Tourism

Allan Prangnell
allan.prangnell@dia.govt.nz        021 865 809
Upper South Island/Canterbury (LGNZ Zone 5) – Three Waters Review

Warren Ulusele
warren.ulusele@dia.govt.nz        021 227 8187
Southland/Central Otago/West Coast (LGNZ Zone 6) – Housing and Urban Development; Urban Growth Agenda