Introduction
The Local Governance Statement supports local democracy. It provides the public with information on the ways to influence local democratic processes.
The Local Governance Statement is a requirement of the Local Government Act 2002 and includes the following broad categories of information:
- Functions responsibilities, and activities of the council
- Electoral arrangements
- Governance structures and processes
- The way elected members make decisions and relate to each other.
- The management structure and key policies
The Purpose of Local Government (Section 10 Local Government Act 2002) is:
- To enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and
- To promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities in the present and for the future.
Our Local Governance Statement
The purpose of local government is:
- (a) to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and
- (b) to promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities in the present and for the future.
(Local Government Act 2002)
The key activities that council is involved in fall into the following categories:
- Governance: Including Councillors and Community Boards.
- Operations: Including Infrastructure - Roading, the 3 Waters Services, Solid Waste and Community Facilities, along with Resource Management and Regulatory Services (including building control, animal control, environmental health and responsible camping)
- Corporate and Commercial Activities: Including Property Management, Forestry Management, Pukaki Airport, Pensioner Housing, Financial Services and Information Management.
The 10 year Long Term Plan sets out the activities and services we intend to provide to meet the district’s needs.
Our rights, obligations and responsibilities are described in statutes, regulations and bylaws. To fullfil its purposes, Mackenzie District Council exercises powers and fulfils responsibilities through the following:
- 1.) Local Government legislation, which applies to all local government. Key among these are:
- Local Government Acts 1974 and 2002
- Local Government (Rating) Act 2002
- Resource Management Act 1991 Building Act 1991
- Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
- Local Electoral Act 2001
- 2.) Local legislation (which applies only to Mackenzie District Council).
Related links
The council uses the First Past the Post electoral system (FPP).
The council has seven councillors elected from three wards, and the Mayor elected at large. It also has three community boards.
The following link provides information on past elections, including the 2022 Local Government Election and 2023 Tekapo Community Board Byelection.
The Mackenzie District Council currently does not have separate Maori wards.
Changing Representation Arrangements
The Council is required to review its representation arrangements at least every six years. The last review took effect from the 2022 elections.
The next Representation Review starts in August, 2026, and will take up to two years to complete. The Act gives the public the right to make a written submission to the Council and the right to be heard if wished.
There is also the right to appeal any decisions on the above to the Local Government Commission, which will make a binding decision on any appeal. Further details on the matters that the Council must consider in reviewing its membership and the basis of election can be found in the Local Electoral Act 2001.
The Representation Reorganisation Process
The Local Government Act 2002 sets out procedures which must be followed during proposals to:
- Make changes to the boundaries of the district.
- Create a new district.
- Create a unitary authority i.e. transfer all the functions of a regional council to a district council.
- Transfer a particular function or functions to another council.
The procedures for resolving each type of proposal are slightly different. In general a reorganisation application is made to the Local Government Commission and can be made by any person, body or group including, but not limited to, one or more affected local authorities or the Minister of Local Government. The Local Government Act 2002, details at Schedule 3 the requirements and process for a reorganisation proposal. The Local Government Commission will also have information on procedures for local government reorganisation. Refer to their website, at www.lgc.govt.nz.
The Mayor and Councillors of the Council have the following roles:
- Developing and approving Council policy;
- Determining the expenditure and the funding requirements of the Council through the Long Term Plan;
- Monitoring the performance of the Council against its stated objectives and policies;
- Employing, overseeing and monitoring the Chief Executive Officer;
- Prudent stewardship of Council resources;
- Having regard to the views of all the communities in the Mackenzie District.
Role of the Mayor
The Mayor is elected by the district at large and as one of the elected members shares the same responsibilities as other members of Council. In addition, the Mayor has the following roles:
- The presiding member at meetings of the Council, and as such is responsible under Standing Orders (a set of procedures for conducting its meetings) for the orderly conduct of Council business at meetings;
- Advocate on behalf of the community;
- Ceremonial head of Council;
- Providing leadership and feedback to other elected members on teamwork and chairing committees;
- Leading the development of the Council’s plans, including the Long Term Plan and Annual Plans.
The Mayor also has the power to appoint the Deputy Mayor, to establish the committees of the Council, and appoint chairpersons to those committees. In practice this is done following consultation with other elected members.
Role of the Deputy Mayor
The Deputy Mayor can be appointed by the Mayor, or if the Mayor chooses not to exercise that power then the Deputy Mayor is elected by the members of Council at the first meeting of the Council.
The Deputy Mayor exercises the same roles as other elected members. In addition, if the Mayor is absent or incapacitated, or if the office of Mayor is vacant, then the Deputy Mayor must perform all of the responsibilities and duties, and may exercise the powers of the Mayor. The Deputy Mayor may be removed from office by resolution of Council.
Role of Community Boards
The role of a community board is to represent, and act as an advocate for the interests of its community and to consider and report on all matters referred to it by Council, or any matter of interest or concern to the community board.
It also maintains an overview of services provided by the council within the community and provides feedback to the council on expenditure within the community. Community boards communicate with the community, local organisations and special interest groups within the community and undertake any other responsibilities that are delegated to them by the council.
Code of Conduct
Shortly after being elected, members adopt a Code of Conduct.
The Code of Conduct is designed to ensure that the governance of the local authority is undertaken with the highest degree of integrity while also providing a safe and rewarding environment in which all elected members can thrive.
All council have a statutory obligation under the Local Government Act 2002, to adopt a code of conduct.
Members are asked to complete an interests declaration once a year - but at any time they can update it with changes, or declare any gifts they receive.
Returns are made under section 54C of the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA) and also include disclosure of information to comply with the Local Authorities (Members' Interests) Act 1968 (LAMIA).
Elected members are required to provide this information under sections 54C to 54H of the Local Government Act. Failure to do so will constitute an offence under section 235.
Related links
Council has seven councillors elected from three wards, and the Mayor, elected at large. It also has three community boards.
The following links contain contact information for the elected members.
Council Meetings
Council meetings are generally held once a month. In addition, extraordinary meetings may be called from time to time to deal with important issues that arise.
Standing Committees
The Council reviews its committee structures after each triennial election. At the last review the Council established the following standing committees:
- Audit and Risk Committee: Chairperson – Bruce Mincham (appointed member)
- Chief Executive’s Performance Committee: Chairperson – Mayor Anne Munro.
The standing committees meet a minimum of four times a year. The Terms of Reference, including delegations to each committee, at the link below.
Terms of References:
- Terms of Reference: Audit and Risk Committee 2022-2025 - PDF, 137.59 KB
- Terms of Reference: Chief Executive Performance Committee 2022-2025 - PDF, 396.18 KB
Community Boards
The three community boards each meet six or seven times per year. Community boards are delegated by Council to carry out certain functions in their community.
Related links
The Mackenzie District Council is committed to effective community consultation. It welcomes input from the people of the district so it can adequately reflect their views in decision making. Consultation does not take anything away from the decision-making roles of elected representatives. Rather, it enhances this democratic process by contributing to the decision-making function of Council.
The Council has adopted a Significance and Engagement Policy to set out how significant issues will be assessed and which matters the Council needs to engage with its communities on.
The purpose of the Significance and Engagement Policy is to:
- enable the Council and its communities to identify the degree of significance attached to particular issues, proposals, assets, decisions and activities.
- provide clarity about how and when communities can expect to be engaged in decisions about different issues, assets or other matters.
- inform the Council from the beginning of a decision-making process about the extent, form and type of engagement required.
Related links
- Significance and Engagement Policy - PDF, 407.52 KB
- Let's Talk - Council uses the Let’s Talk platform to enable people to have their say on Mackenzie’s future.
The Local Government Act provides principles and requirements for local authorities that are intended to facilitate participation by Māori in local authority decision-making processes (for example, sections 81 and 82(2)). This is to recognise and respect the Crown’s responsibility to take appropriate account of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and to maintain and improve opportunities for Māori to contribute to local government decision-making processes.
Council recognizes its obligations under the LGA (Part 6 Section 81) to establish and maintain processes to provide opportunities for Maori to contribute to its decision-making processes and make information available to them.
Council consults with Te Runanga Ngai Tahu, and papatipu Runanga where appropriate, for resource consent applications and District Plan changes, and in relation to activities impacting on sites or areas of interest or significance.
Related links
The Local Government Act 2002 requires the council to employ a chief executive who is responsible for employing other staff on behalf of the council, to implement council decisions and provide advice to the council.
Under the Local Government Act 2002, the Chief Executive is the only person who may lawfully give instructions to a staff member.
Related links
Mackenzie District Council is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunities and seeks to ensure that there are no barriers present which discriminate against people on the grounds of sex, age, martial status, religious or ethical beliefs, colour, race or national origins, disability, political opinion, employment status, family status and sexual orientation. All employment-related decisions are made on the basis of merit.
At Mackenzie District Council we have a number of planning documents that provide details on our functions, goals and how we plan to achieve them.
Related Links
Requests for information can be made by all members of the public under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 I(LGOIMA) and the Privacy Act 1993. Information may be found via the following link: