Talking SuperLocal, Local Government New Zealand conference

Last week Christchurch hosted the Local Government New Zealand conference.

This year’s theme SuperLocal, with a lens on celebrating and promoting community empowerment and local decision-making.

The Hurunui District was represented by Mayor Marie Black, alongside South Ward Councillors Robbie Bruerton, Vanessa McPherson and Pauline White, they spent two days listening to and interacting with guest speakers including various Ministers and Opposition spokespeople.

Mayor Marie Black felt encouraged by ‘Choose localism,’ the theme that was weaved throughout the conference.

This theme encompassed the idea that districts work best when communities embrace local businesses and visions, and when councils work closely with and listen to their communities.

Mayor Black was pleased to hear leaders of all political parties sighting the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs Programme as a perfect example of how a centrally funded and locally led initiative can deliver good results.

Mayor Black also presented at the conference, highlighting the issues, challenges and opportunities of the Programme using a Hurunui lens.

Another highlight was listening to Jamie Simmonds and Renata Hakiwai speak about the complexities of relocating flood-prone communities, saying that for too long, managed retreat has been a theoretical conversation.

“Speaking from their experiences, they said with the right leadership, commitment from the community and most of all hope, local governments are capable of incredible things,” said Mayor Black, adding that Jamie relocated the town of Grantham Australia following a devasting flash flood in 2011.

The relocation of Grantham is regarded by some as one of the most successful examples of managed retreat in the world.

“This was of particular interest to councillors, given the recent adoption of the Amberley Beach Coastal Adaption Plan.”

Super Local was a platform for attendees to discuss both the unity and divide between local government and central government. A remit was passed at the AGM to ensure that local government develops a consensus position or consensus positions on the Future For Local Government report, to take to the incoming government.

“This will ensure local government is working to a collective position to achieve unity, control and autonomy, a focus that is the reflection of the controversy that resulted from the proposed Water Services Reform Programme.”