1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The New Zealand Initiative welcomes the opportunity to submit on the Local Government (Management of Local Authorities) Amendment Bill.

1.2 The Initiative is a Wellington-based think tank supported primarily by major New Zealand businesses. In combination, our members employ more than 150,000 people. We undertake research that contributes to the development of sound public policies in New Zealand, and we advocate for the creation of a competitive, open and dynamic economy, as well as a free, prosperous, fair and cohesive society.

1.3 This submission draws on the Initiative’s extensive research on local government, including its 2024 report Making Local Government Work and its 2025 submission on the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill.

1.4 The Initiative supports the Local Government (Management of Local Authorities) Amendment Bill. We commend Stuart Smith MP for introducing this Members’ Bill. The Initiative recommends that it proceed, with amendments to sharpen its drafting and to complement and strengthen the elected-member information entitlement inserted by Amendment Paper 755 to the Government’s (now passed) Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill.

1.5 The Bill states a principle we regard as correct and overdue, that elected members govern and the officials they employ answer to them. The first reading debate showed that this principle commands cross-party support. The task at select committee is to build on the Bill and ensure its provisions deliver it.

1.6 The Initiative requests to appear before the committee to speak to this submission.