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The Auckland City Council (the Council) is to be commended for the steps that it is taking to concentrate on its core activities and reduce the rate of growth in spending and rates. The proposed strategic plan is also better focused and more realistic than the previous strategic plan, The First City of the Pacific, which has justifiably been discarded. Read more

In submissions over the past few years, we have called on the Wellington City Council (the Council) to focus on its core business, exit from other activities and implement more efficient funding arrangements. By focusing on its core activities the Council could cut expenditure and rates, which we believe is an essential step towards making Wellington an attractive place for business. Read more

A thorough revision of the Local Government Act 1974 (the Act) is warranted. The new act must, however, be based on sound principles. Read more

The serious deficiencies of the Local Government Act 1974 (the Act) are widely recognised. A thorough revision of the Act is warranted. Read more

In general we consider the discussion paper is competent and sound. Our main criticism is its failure to highlight in chapter 5 the need to avoid imposing changes to offer back and related conditions that would have retrospective effect. Read more

The Plan does not focus on funding public good activities. All passenger transport projects for which grant applications have been received since 1998 and are reported to have passed "legislative filters" are unambiguously private good activities. Read more

In submissions over the past few years business organisations have called on the Wellington City Council (the Council) to focus on its core business, exit from other activities and implement more efficient funding arrangements. Unless such policies are adopted, ratepayers will be confronted by continuing rate increases and Wellington City will be a less attractive city than otherwise to locate businesses. Read more

We are strongly of the view that the major contribution that the WRC can make to regional growth and employment prospects is to reduce the rates and regulatory burden it imposes on the private sector. Read more

A prime concern of business organisations over the last few years has been the cumulative increases in the Council's expenditure, rates and compulsory charges as a consequence of its failure to focus on core activities, exit from other activities and implement more efficient funding arrangements. Unless the Council reconsiders its approach and adopts business organisations' suggestions, ratepayers will be confronted by continuing and unsustainable rate increases. Read more

The 1989 reform of local government increased its efficiency and improved the quality and amount of information available to ratepayers. The rate of improvement within the local government sector has, however, slowed in the recent past. Read more