Related resources for working with local government

Examples of central and local government collaboration are given here, including the Auckland sustainable cities programme, Porirua City Council's Information-Sharing Forums, and the memorandum of understanding between Christchurch City Council, Housing New Zealand and Aranui Community Trust.

Summary of Cabinet Policy Committee Paper.

This directory is a comprehensive guide to contact information and services provided by central government, local government, and non-government agencies in New Zealand. It helps communities to understand the services provided by agencies in their area, and assists groups working in the community to easily get in touch with other groups and agencies in their area, to work together to achieve community outcomes.

This website, managed by the Department of Internal Affairs, has information about community outcomes in New Zealand, including good practice examples and resources. The website includes a directory of central government, local authority, and local organisation services, including local contact details where available.

Explores current practices used by territorial local authorities in New Zealand to involve citizens in deliberation. Available on interloan from Massey University Library. B. MacLennan (2000). Unpublished Master of Arts (Social Policy) paper. Massey University.

This document considers how local governments can increase citizen engagement in their operations. It includes a useful list of references. Cities Project (2002). Issue 12, March QTR 2002.   Available from global-M Ltd, PO Box 2883 Wellington. Phone: 0800 2 RESEARCH. Email: tom.journal@global-m.co.nz

This document considers how local governments can increase citizen engagement in their operations. It includes a useful list of references. Cities Project (2002). Issue 12, March QTR 2002.   Available from global-M Ltd, PO Box 2883 Wellington. Phone: 0800 2 RESEARCH. Email: tom.journal@global-m.co.nz

A report prepared by Brookfields Consultants Limited for the Waitakere City Council, to support the Council’s submission to the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance.

A guide to how councils work, local government law, and council –citizen interaction.

This Department of Internal Affairs team manages the Community Outcomes website.

This is the national site for local government.

For information on the role of local government, profiles of local authorities, and other useful links.  

This paper describes different models of community governance and co-operation developed by councils around New Zealand, the structures adopted, the key processes that made them work, and the outcomes and lessons learned. Available from Local Government New Zealand, PO Box 1214 Wellington. Phone (04) 924 1200. Fax (04) 924 1230. Email: info@lgnz.co.nz 

This report documents a community consultation project undertaken in 2000 using the Participatory Appraisal Method.  It sets out the methods used and also records comments from citizens. Rotorua District Council (2000) . Rotorua, New Zealand: Rotorua District Council.

These guidelines have been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs to prompt and assist central government agencies to identify and consider key issues that may arise where local authorities are, or are proposed to be, involved in the implementation of regulatory functions. (Dec 2006)

The starting point for this document is the Local Government Act 1974, but it also documents a wide range of other statutory provisions and case law that create a specific duty to consult.

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) advocates on behalf of New Zealand's local authorities about local government policy. This manifesto discusses how LGNZ wants to work with central government, and the specific policy issues that it would like to see addressed. The manifesto identifies early robust consultation, adequate funding, and collaboration on the implementation of legislation as the key requirements for successful local and central government partnership.

This policy document expresses the Christchurch City Council's commitment to work with the voluntary sector for the betterment of the community, to champion and support voluntary activity, and to jointly influence national policy where appropriate. 

This publication is a “tool kit” for Local Government managers and elected representatives.  It covers the active public consultation process.  It has been designed to support Local Government strategic planning processes but could also be used by public or community organisations involved in strategic planning and resource allocation. Creative New Zealand/The Hillary Commission (1999). Wellington, New Zealand: Creative New Zealand/The Hillary Commission

This document provides information about how to: identify key research questions; design research projects; analyse research findings; devise assessment criteria from research findings and create an audit/checklist; assess funding proposals using an appropriate audit/checklist; and communicate the results of the consultation process to the public, interest groups and decision-making forums.   It includes an appendix describing a range of methods for involving community members during the research phase.

Stratford District Council received a Highly Commended certificate in the 2009 SOLGM/New Zealand Post Excellence Awards in the category ‘Joined-Up Local Government’ for its involvement in the Stratford TET Home Safety Project. This project installed 12,000 smoke alarms in over 2,600 central Taranaki homes, raised home safety awareness across Stratford District and created employment for seven people.

Explores the partnership between central and local government regarding sustainable development. This paper reviews key central government information support mechanisms which may directly or indirectly help local government and communities identify and realise sustainable development goals.

Workshop presentation and information, 17/04/2009, Central and Local Government Workshop, Duxton Hotel, Wellington This workshop introduced ‘systems thinking’ as a tool for helping central and local government work better together and address complex problems. The workshop was led by Professor Kambiz Maani, an internationally renowned expert in systems thinking and sustainable strategies. His presentation covers the theory, tools and language of systems thinking.

This is an updated version of the 1998 guide. Examples of participatory democracy used by councils in New Zealand as well as the UK and Australia are included.  Issues encountered by local authorities when considering the principles of decision making and consultation are also explored.  The guide is designed to be used by both local government and the general public. Office of the Controller and Auditor General (2007). Wellington, New Zealand: Office of the Auditor General

This report stems from an event held in 2007 to discuss and analyze problems faced by local governments responding to requirements for citizen engagement and increased participatory forms of government.  It documents the outcomes of discussion covering topics ranging from participatory approaches to budgeting and planning to new forms of participation and opportunities for citizen participation in service delivery. Attendees came from the United Kingdom, America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Institute of Development Studies (2007). United Kingdom: Institute of Development Studies.

This publication is part of a wider ‘Local Government Community Engagement Project’ a joint initiative of the Local Government association of South Australia (LGA) and the SA Government through the Office for State/Local Government Relations.  It follows on from the earlier Community Engagement Showcase publication and is a process orientated “how to” guide. Local Government Association of South Australia (2008). Local Government Association of South Australia.

This publication is part of a wider ‘Community Engagement Project’ a joint initiative of the Local Government association of South Australia (LGA) and the SA Government through the Office for State/Local Government Relations.  It contains examples of community engagement initiatives and highlights the translation of  policy initiatives into actual processes. Local Government Association of South Australia (2007) Local Government Association of South Australia.

This research looks at governance initiatives in Birmingham that utilize citizens as well as service users and the voluntary and community sectors.  It offers valuable insight into the problems disadvantaged communities can experience when involved in this type of governance.  It suggests using the two design principles of local knowledge and local representation when designing citizen-centred governance and illustrates these through the use of case studies.   Barnes M, C Skelcher, H Beirens, R Dalziel, S Jeffares and L Wilson (2008). United Kingdom: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

This research project looks at how local councils have developed approaches to encourage engagement of local people in the shaping of public policies and services. It sets out the key ingredients for enabling successful community engagement, but is not a list of techniques. Ipsos Mori Social Research Institute (2008) United Kingdom: Ipsos Mori Social Research Institute

The Institute of Local Government Studies (Inlogov) is the UK's leading centre for local government management research, consultancy and teaching.  United Kingdom.

Two challenges facing governments are to integrate programming across departments and work collaboratively with other government agencies. Two small, low-profile programmes in Canada supporting the health and development of children at risk have been quietly doing the job for more than 10 years. This report discusses some of the lessons learned. Canada.

This report focuses on analysis of what consultation is, how to plan consultation, overcoming common obstacles, the principles of good practice and evaluating effectiveness.  It is directed at local bodies and is intended to assist them in developing community consultation in the policy making process. Audit Commission (1999). United Kingdom: Audit Commission

This website offers various types of information on citizen participation in local governance. A major part of the website is a database of case studies. Each case study describes a real-life practice on participatory governance, including tools used and lessons learnt. Contact details of persons and organizations involved are provided whenever possible.  The site also presents articles and links to organizations active in the field of participatory local governance. Toolkit Participation.

This website has case studies of three local bodies in the United Kingdom who have been recognised as ‘leading the way’ in transforming services and engaging and empowering citizens and (non) users. Improvement and Development Agency. Transformational Beacons. United Kingdom: Improvement and Development Agency.

A UK project focused on getting service recipients and voluntary sector organisations involved in wider decision-making about local public services. An aim of this strategy is to bring communities and service providers together to develop local solutions to local problems. This is part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. United Kingdom.

This website is a resource for local government in the United Kingdom. It contains a number of resources on community participation, partnerships, e-government and consultation. Access is free to registered users. United Kingdom.