MEDIA ARTICLE

The role of local government when local issues become national

For immediate release on 28 May 2007, 550 words
This article can be attributed to Mike Reid, Manager, Governance, Local Government New Zealand

“Boy racers” and other issues around youth and alcohol are currently headlining the news. So too is the collective action of mayors who are making a stand and taking a leadership role, emphasising the need to work together to see what can be done before more young people die.

So why are the local body politicians becoming involved at a national level and what is their role?

Mayors and councillors take a leadership role within their own communities with an emphasis on improving the collective well-being of the local community. This is the well-being for all sectors of the community, in particular those that appear to be at-risk.

In looking at the health and well-being of the community, councils acknowledge that the failure to address this can impact on the long-term economic, social, cultural and environmental sustainability of the community.

Making decisions on the well-being of the community requires collective action and choices, which have to be binding on the whole community. Councils have the ability to introduce bylaws to deal with specific issues affecting their communities and members of the community are encouraged to share their views during this process.

Local government is best placed to introduce these bylaws because elected members understand local circumstances, have local knowledge and are charged with representing the views of their community. Local government is by its nature, more accessible and can relatively quickly respond to local needs. People can easily become involved in local government processes, and have the opportunity to voice their opinions about the decisions being made and bylaws that are introduced.

Councillors, as the elected officials, then have to make difficult decisions. Each decision is a judgement and trade-off where there are tensions concerning different priorities of different residents. This is about making decisions for the collective good of all in the community.

Sometimes, as in this case, civic leaders feel that the issue is bigger than their own community and that collectively they can add weight to influencing change. This is when local authorities can make a difference by standing together to bring an issue to the attention of who is responsible for making the required change, whether it is central government or another organisation.

Recent examples of community issues include rural school closures, the proposed closure of the Overlander rail service, cut-backs to essential health services and the need for more front-line police officers. In this case the mayors are suggesting that central government investigate a raft of issues which may offer solutions not only to the “boy-racer” issue but also to other problems caused by alcohol and driving.

The mayors are saying that they have a leadership role in their communities to empower and affirm positive parenting, rights and responsibilities; to explore opportunities to enhance youth development into adulthood; and to explore potential solutions.

Local elections are taking place in October. This is your chance to tell your council how well they are doing on making collective choices about shaping your community. Have they got the balance right in looking at the collective well-being of your community? Are they acting on issues of concern to you and your local community? The elections are an opportunity for you to look at candidates and assess their stance on the issues that are important to you.

Local Government New Zealand is the national voice of all 85 councils of New Zealand.

ENDS

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