Commission to meet West Coast communities

The Local Government Commission will be on the West Coast in June to talk to communities about local government in the region.

“Last year we received an application asking us to look at your local government arrangements, with a view to making changes,’’ says Local Government Commissioner Janie Annear. “The application met the legal requirements for assessment, and the step we are now taking is to seek the views of the wider community.”

“We want to hear from you about what you like about the current way your councils are set up and the way services are delivered. We also want to know if you think your local government arrangements can be made more efficient, effective and user-friendly while still remaining accountable to local communities.’’

The Commission is to hold a series of community workshops and drop-in sessions throughout the West Coast, beginning in Karamea on 15 June and finishing in Greymouth on 30 June. The full schedule is attached below.

The Commission wants to talk to and hear from as many people on the Coast as possible. It wants to hear from you on:

What the big challenges and opportunities are on the West Coast

What you like about the current way your councils are set up and the way services are delivered

Whether there is anything about the current way your councils are set up and the way services are delivered, that you would like to change

Whether there are any council services you think would be better delivered over a wider area as shared services by existing councils

Whether some councils should be combined.

“We are coming to the West Coast to listen to your ideas,’’ says Mrs Annear. “We are completely open-minded and genuinely interested in what you have to say.’’

The Commission will be publicising the workshops and drop-in sessions with media advertisements and posters but if you are not able to get to a workshop or drop-in session you will also be able to read about and join in the discussion through pamphlets, articles, online information and an online questionnaire (www.lgc.govt.nz).

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