Councils in Hawke’s Bay won’t be joining the exodus from Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ).
The Christchurch City Council are the latest local body who’ve voted to leave the membership organisation, following Auckland, Kaipara, Greymouth, West Coast Regional and Westland.
Christchurch’s annual subscription to LGNZ rose $21,294 to $163,254, which prompted some councillors to wonder if that was value for money. LGNZ reported ‘Receipts from Members & Stakeholders’ of $9.2m in its latest annual report.
Despite being a member of the LGNZ national council, Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger voted in favour of relinquishing LGNZ membership, suggesting the city was more than capable of dealing directly with the government without the assistance of a national body.
That’s not a view shared in Hawke’s Bay, where LGNZ’s support remains valued.
The HB Regional Council, Napier City Council, Hastings District Council and CHB District Council all told BayBuzz that they had no intention of leaving LGNZ.
Membership fees paid to LGNZ vary, with Auckland, for instance, having a subscription of $350,000 when it withdrew last year.
At a time when Hawke’s Bay ratepayers are being hit with double-digit rises – and councils are looking for greater efficiencies and cost savings – our councils insist LGNZ membership remains money well spent.
“The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has been a long-standing member of the Local Government New Zealand and an active council in its Regional Sector group alongside other Regional and Unitary councils from around the country. We currently pay a subscription of $49,860,’’ Hawke’s Bay Regional Council chair Hinewai Ormsby said. “LGNZ provides advocacy on behalf of councils, support to elected members and a forum for working across councils. Council has not recently considered leaving LGNZ.’’
Hastings District Council chief executive Nigel Bickle added, they’d be mad to right now. “Given the massive issues facing our community as we recover from Cyclone Gabrielle, the push for better models around local delivery and the huge cost issues facing ratepayers, this advocacy role with government has never been more important,’’ Bickle said.
Napier City Council chief executive Louise Miller believes local bodies in areas such as Hawke’s Bay don’t have the clout to go it alone like Auckland or Christchurch.
“The organisation provides a huge range of benefits to members, including advocacy on issues of national importance,” Miller said. “On these matters, our collective voice is so much stronger than that of individual councils. We also benefit through the learning and expertise of other members, as well as relevant industry leaders and experts. This knowledge is shared regularly at various LGNZ forums.’’
Those sentiments were echoed by CHB District Council chief executive Doug Tate. “LGNZ provides an important voice for local government, being the only voice providing collective advocacy on issues to government, professional development to elected members and access to networks,’’ Tate said. “As a small council we receive value from this advocacy, leadership and training and development.’’
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All because Yule is one of their advisers and they’re tied up in it.