Local Government Forum Remembers Roger Kerr

Local Government Forum
Media Release
1 November 2011

Local Government Forum Remembers Roger Kerr

Members of the Local Government Forum are today remembering Roger Kerr’s immense contribution to public policy and the wider economy, said Michael Barnett, Chair of the Local Government Forum.

The Business Roundtable was one of the founding members of the Local Government Forum, a group of major business organisations with an interest in promoting efficient and effective local government.

“Roger was a driving force behind the Forum from its establishment in 1994”, said Mr. Barnett.

“Roger recognised that local government is a vital part of the economic and social landscape and he was passionate in promoting policies to maximise the sector’s contribution to New Zealanders’ wellbeing.

“Roger consistently and strongly argued that the best way for local government to contribute to maximising wellbeing was for it do its core activities well and keep its spending and rates under control.

“Roger put a lot of energy into the Local Government Forum right to the end. His contributions to discussions around the Forum table were always clear and focused, and of course highly principled.

“Over the years Roger was very supportive of individual members of the Forum both in local government and across other policy issues. He was a great friend, colleague, and mentor.

“Roger’s death last weekend will leave a huge hole in New Zealand’s financial and business community and he will be sorely missed.

“Members of the Local Government Forum express their sincerest condolences to Roger’s wife Catherine, his children Bernard, Nicholas, and Richard, and other family members”, said Mr. Barnett.

ENDS

ABOUT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FORUM

The Local Government Forum comprises organisations that have a vital interest in the activities of local government. Its members include Business New Zealand, the Electricity Networks Association, Federated Farmers of New Zealand, New Zealand Business Roundtable, New Zealand Chambers of Commerce, and New Zealand Retailers’ Association. The Forum was established in 1994 to promote greater efficiency in local government and to contribute to debate on policy issues affecting it.

Forum members are each significant representatives of ratepayers in their own right but the Forum’s perspective is to advance community welfare through the advocacy of sound public policy. We believe that local government can best serve the interests of the community and ratepayers by focusing on the efficient provision of public goods at a local level.

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