Spend any time working in local government and you will soon stumble across the long-running funding fight between New Zealand’s two tiers of government. In the white trunks is central government, frustrated by the inability to make progress on projects of national significance due to what it perceives to be local self-interest, particularly when it comes to infrastructure. Read more

Last week the cat was set amongst the pigeons after the Herald ran a story saying that Auckland Council was trying to raise the urban density limits in the green leafy suburbs that surround the inner city without public consultation. Squawks of alarm were immediately heard from Auckland 2040, a community group dedicated to protecting the character of the city’s residential neighbourhoods. Read more

In the cut and thrust of politics it was no surprise that Environment Minister Nick Smith denounced the Labour Party’s new housing policy. After all, while it is the opposition’s job to oppose government policies, it is just as much the incumbent’s job to shoot down ideas coming from across the house. Read more

If you look at the United Kingdom and Switzerland, it would be easy to conclude that the two countries have very little in common when it comes to localism. On one side is Britain, a country that abandoned localism to increasingly concentrate decision making in London over the last 100 years. Read more

As the first article noted, there is phenomenal interest among local government officials over the idea of trialling new ways of tackling long standing problems through special economic zones. But where do we get these new ideas, and how do we limit the risks that come with trying something new? Read more

Recently I attended a citizenship ceremony, and sat amidst a group of people that could best be described as the diaspora of humanity. The event, as is the norm, was presided over by Wellington City Deputy Mayor Justin Lester. Read more