" The paths to the future are not found but created"

Local Governance

Local Democracy Today and Tomorrow - the Emerging Role of ‘Non-Traditional’ Entities of Local Governance
November 2014

This paper was prepared to support a presentation to a session on ‘Decentralisation, the local level and the national level’ as part of a workshop being hosted by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, with the support of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, in Stockholm, November 2014.

A Good Practice Guide for Enabling and Supporting Place-Based and Related Community Governance October 2014
This guide has been produced by MDL to assist councils and other entities wanting closer engagement with the communities they serve. It is set in the context of a sea change in public expectations and opportunities for people to be more involved in shaping the future of their local area, and reflects wide-ranging interest internationally in new ways for councils and others to work with communities.

An Overview of Developments in Community and Neighbourhood Governance October 2014
Workshop presentation
This paper was prepared for presentation to a series of workshops in New Zealand and Australia during September and October 2014 for local councils and wider community interests on what is happening in community governance internationally. The workshop panel comprised leading researchers and practitioners Peter McKinlay and Dr Paul Leistner of the Office of Neighbourhood Involvement,  Portland, Oregon, with representatives of the Thames Coromandel District Council and the Bendigo & Adelaide Bank Ltd.

Reflections on the Role of Local and Central Government in the Delivery of Social Services December 2013
Report

This report was prepared for the New Zealand Treasury as a think piece to assist it in considering the respective roles of central and local government in facilitating the better and more efficient delivery of the government's major social services.

Community-Level Governance: What provision should be made and/or mandated in local government legislation? July 2013
A report prepared for the New South Wales Independent Local Government Review Panel, the Local Government Association of South Australia’s Expert Panel on the ‘Council of the Future’ and Local Government New Zealand. The principal focus of this report is whether local government legislation should include specific requirements allowing or obligating councils to introduce a form of community-level (‘sub-council’ or ‘second-tier’) governance. Each of the three partners was interested in this question as they considered the future role and structure of local government within their own jurisdictions. The report is in part a sequel to an earlier MDL led project undertaken for the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government and partners, and published as Evolution in Community Governance: Building on What Works (see below). 

Evolution in community governance: building on what works March 2012
Research report Volume 1

This report provides an overview of emerging practice in community governance within Australian local government, and within the community banking network of the Bendigo & Adelaide Bank limited. It was undertaken by McKinlay Douglas Ltd in partnership with the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government and with the support of Local Government Managers Australia, the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Bendigo & Adelaide Bank Ltd.

How to develop good governance at the city level April 2011
Seminar paper

This paper was presented by Peter McKinlay to the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) Seminar on Environmental Sustainability in Urban Centres held in Perth, Western Australia. The purpose of the paper was to provide an overview of what constitutes good governance in an urban setting, in the context of the complexities now confronting governments at all levels. The paper, and a companion paper, were published by PECC in Environmental Sustainability in Urban Centres available here.

Evolution in Community Governance: Building on What Works Dec 2011
Conference paper
This paper by Peter McKinlay, presented to an Australian Centre of Excellence in Local Government Conference, Sydney, 15 December 2011, reports on findings from the project Evolution in Community Governance: Building on What Works. The genesis of the project was a combination of earlier work undertaken by the researchers on the changing role of local government in Australia. Specifically, an opportunity was seen for a new look at the way community governance may be evolving in Australia through comparing the experience of local government with that of the community banking network of the Bendigo Bank. The final report itself, for which Peter McKinlay was lead author, is available here.

Reconceptualising Shared Services Nov 2011
Journal article
By Peter McKinlay, published in the November 2011 issue of the Commonwealth e-Journal of Local Governance.
The potential of shared services is a persistent theme in local government. Its advocates argue that it offers a practical way for councils to share experiences and resources, tackle common problems and take advantage of economies of scale which is preferable to amalgamation. But so far it has promised more than it has delivered.  Recent case study research on a new approach to shared services within two of New Zealand's local government regions suggests that issues of structure, and of how shared services are conceptualised, may both be critical factors in realising the full potential of shared services.


The Changing Role of Local Government: A Presentation to the Future of Local Government Summit, Melbourne, June 2010
Conference paper
Five years since the Municipal Association of Victoria hosted the first Future of Local Government Summit, the 2010 Summit addressed the question “what is local government's place in the world, what vision do we have for our future?”. The paper concludes   that local  
government has an opportunity of a kind which comes but seldom to redefine its role in relation both to its communities, and to higher tiers of government.

Community Engagement Project 2009
Report
Project report This project examined emerging international practice in different approaches to community engagement, drawing a contrast with the conventional practices of community consultation mandated under New Zealand's Local Government Act.

Tertiary Education: Social and Economic Impacts 2008

Submission to Royal Commission  Peter McKinlay assisted the tertiary subcommittee of the Committee for Auckland in drafting its submission to the 2008 Royal Commission on the Governance of Auckland. The Committee’s evidence-based submission emphasises the need for closer integration between the planning and delivery of tertiary education services, widely defined, and the region's economic and social development. The arguments it spells out should desirably form part of the economic (and social) development strategy of every region in New Zealand.

NZ Government Rating Inquiry 2007:Collaborative submission 2007
This collaborative submission resulted from the work of some 17 local authorities, Local Government New Zealand, Grey Power and the Federation of Maori Authorities. Significant input was also received from Federated Farmers and Age Concern although they were not themselves parties to the submission.

NZ Government Rating Inquiry 2007: Resource paper 2007
This resource paper, prepared by MDL, was the main resource document used in the preparation of the collaborative submission.

Local Government Funding 2006
Paper

This substantial piece of work was undertaken to a brief prepared in conjunction with Local Government New Zealand. It involved extensive scoping of international practice, including consultation with researchers, officials and think tanks in Australia, North America and England. The theme of the work was seeking a 21st century solution to a 21st-century problem.

Local Government Finances - What's Happening In New Zealand 2006
Conference Paper

A paper presented at the South Australian Local Government Financial Management Group Conference in Adelaide.

Enhancing The Effectiveness Of The Relationships Between Local Governments In The Bay Of Plenty 2006
Report
A report prepared for Environment Bay of Plenty considering how it was responding to recent (2002) changes to its statutory role, especially the new purpose of promoting community well-being.

Local Government Structure and Efficiency 2006
Report

A report prepared for Local Government New Zealand reviewing international evidence of experience with local government restructuring and other approaches to improving local government performance.

Local Government and Local Governance: Putting the Community into Recreation 2005
Presentation

A presentation for 'At the Heart', the New Zealand Recreation Association National Conference for 2005.

Future of Local Government Summit: A New Zealand Perspective 2005
Presentation
A presentation to the Future of Local Government Summit conference in Melbourne, exploring the changing environment for local government and its future role.

Long Term Council Community Plans and Asset Management 2005
Conference Paper

A paper presented to the 8th Local Government Asset Management Conference in Auckland.

Community Outcomes Project 2004/05
Synopsis

CLIENT: Local Government New Zealand
This project, undertaken for Local Government New Zealand and a group of central and local government co-funders, is a detailed explication of how the community outcomes process can be used as community-based strategic planning.
Click here to see the full report.
The printed report is available from Local Government New Zealand.

Overview for Auckland Economic Development Agencies August 2004
Overview

The purpose of this work was to raise the capacities and performance of economic development agencies in Auckland within the context of the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy.

The Local Government Act 2002: Implications for Governance and Economic Development June 2004
Presentation

A presentation to participants in AUT University's Graduate Diploma on Economic Development, looking at the relationship between local government and economic development in the context of the new Local Government Act.

A Guide To Working With Draft Annual Plans And Long Term Council Community Plans March 2004
Guide 

CLIENT:
New Zealand Chamber of Commerce
A guide to assist Chambers of Commerce effectively engage with their local and regional councils, on behalf of their local and regional memberships, in the context of long term council community plans.

Reaping the Benefits: Local Government Act 2002 in Practice February 2004
Seminar presentation

A presentation to the NZ Institute of Public Administration Seminar in Wellington.

Analysing the Strategic Links Between Asset Management Plans and Long Term Council Community Plans
May 2003

Conference paper

A paper presented at the 6th Annual Local Government Asset Management Conference in Wellington.

Adapting to New Powers of General Competence: Examining the Implications of New Freedoms and Constraints Under the New Legislation February 2003
Conference paper

A paper presented at the Successfully Implementing Local Government Reform Conference in Wellington. This paper demonstrates that the common view local government received enhanced powers of general competence as a result of the 2002 act is incorrect and that in fact local government had greater powers of general competence under the previous 1974 Act.

The Relationship and Interplay between Local Authorities and the Community Sector in Economic
Development November 2002

Presentation slides

A presentation accompanying a paper delivered by Adrienne von Tunzelmann and Sue Duignan to the Australia New Zealand Third Sector Conference held in Auckland.

Western Bay of Plenty Smartgrowth Study June 2002
Report
One of a set of three reports prepared for the SmartGrowth project to provide an overview of economic trends within the Western Bay of Plenty over the next 20 and 50 years. The MDL report is an economic scan that identifies potential initiatives for improving economic activity, and considers the nature of the future economy based on current trends and overseas research and experience.
For more information about Smartgrowth, click here.

Examining the Possible Effects of the Local Government Act Review on Local Government Asset Management Practices April 2002
Conference paper

A paper to the 5th Annual Local Government Asset Management Conference in Auckland.

Exploring Future Finance Trends in Central Government and Local Government November 2002
Forum paper
A paper presented at the 5th Annual Local Government Finance Forum in Wellington.

Future Sources of Funding for Community Needs November 2001
Conference paper

A paper to the 4th Annual Local Government Finance Forum in Wellington.

Future Funding of Local Government Activities October 2001
Report
CLIENT: Local Government New Zealand
A report prepared by MDL and the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research that considers the need for a supplementary source of funding for local government in New Zealand and seeks to identify the best option.

Local Government and Community Involvement in Ownership and Management of Social Housing January 2001
Report (Executive Summary)
CLIENT: Ministry of Social Policy and Local Government New Zealand
The emphasis of this report is on partnership options for social housing involving central government, local government, the voluntary and community sector and Iwi/Maori.

The Strategic Role of Local Government: A Comparison of English and New Zealand Experience August 2000
Paper

A paper prepared following discussions in England in April 1999 with officials, local government representatives and researchers with an interest in local government.

A Good Practice Guide for Local Authorities in the Resourcing and Funding of Community Organisations: A Synopsis February 2000
Guide (Synopsis)

CLIENT: Local Government New Zealand
A guide dealing with recurring issues in funding community organisations, whether the need is ongoing improvement in internal management approaches or working with communities in a partnership relationship.
Full report available from Local Government New Zealand.

Understanding community governance July 1999
Conference paper
A paper delivered to the Special Interest Group on Community Governance at the 1999 Local Government New Zealand Conference. It was part of work undertaken by Peter McKinlay on the potential of 'local governance', and drew heavily on international research and practice.

Globalisation, Subsidiarity and Enabling the Governance of our Communities June 1999
Forum paper

A paper for the Community Government Forum in Christchurch, as part of ongoing work on the growing importance of local governance - the shift from the centre to the periphery of the locale of key governing decisions.

Putting the Community into the Community Trust of Southland June 1999
AGM address
An address to the 1999 Annual General Meeting of the Community Trust of Southland, based on Peter McKinlay’s book 'Public Ownership and the Community', to stimulate debate within the Trust on governance, accountability and co-ordination with other local public entities.

Public Ownership and Accountability May 1999
Seminar presentation

A presentation to the Wairarapa Funders Seminar providing an overview of issues raised by the ownership and management of public wealth through local and regional trusts.

Public Ownership and the Community April 1999
Conference presentation

A paper presented to the Public Administration and Development Jubilee Conference at Oxford University.

Assessing the Practical Impact of Changes to the Future Management of Roading and Water at Council Level March 1999
Conference paper

A paper presented to the Commercialisation of Infrastructure Assets Conference.

Public Ownership and the Community 1999
Book - published by the Institute of Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington
Author - Peter McKinlay
$5 billion is held on behalf of NZ consumers and communities as the result of restructuring our trustee savings banks and electricity distributors into a series of trusts. This book written by Peter McKinlay (Executive Director of MDL Ltd) reviews the decisions which led to their establishment. It is a study of their governance and management, which sheds new light on issues of public versus private ownership, mandate, legitimacy and the meaning of community, as well as on the future of local government as major services such as water and waste water are restructured along commercial lines.  Order this book from the Institute of Policy Studies or contact us.

Devolution: Partnership or Ad Hocism? November 1998
Paper

A paper on the relationship between central and local government with the assistance of a grant from the State Services Commission.

Rating Powers Act Issues Paper June 1997
Forum paper

A paper presented to the Local Government Forum.

Cost of Capital 1996
Forum Paper

A paper presented to the Local Government Forum to assist local authorities understand why the business community places such importance on the use of cost capital.

Redistribution of Power? Devolution in New Zealand 1990
Book - published by the Victoria University Press for the Institute of Policy Studies
Edited by - Peter McKinlay,
Executive Director of MDL Ltd
This book explores the nature of the reform process that has been instituted by the New Zealand Labour Government, concluding that it is essentially a process of recentralisation. This process has not been a simple matter of devolution or disengagement as there are examples such as health which point towards centralisation. The book deals with local government, SOEs, education, health, women, welfare, iwi authorities and regulation, as well as placing the reforms in an historical context. Contact us, or Order this book from the Institute of Public Policy.


The following section contains a series of papers and submissions relating to the re-structuring of local government in Auckland prepared by MDL Executive Director Peter McKinlay, as Director of the Local Government Centre at AUT University, and colleagues at the Centre. The unprecedented re-structuring began with a Royal Commission inquiry in 2008 and led to the creation of the so-called 'super city' launched on 1 November 2010.

The Future Governance of the Auckland Region: Implications for the Remainder of the Local Government Sector 2009
Conference paper

This paper was prepared by Peter McKinlay to outline the implications of Auckland's governance reform for the rest of the local government sector. It concentrates on the emergence of regional governance (which is related to but different from regional government) as a critical element in governance.

Governance for Auckland Leadership – What Are We Looking For? 2009
Conference paper

This paper was presented by Peter McKinlay to the Conference on Auckland Governance. It discusses what will be needed to make the future leadership of Auckland effective at both the regional and local levels.

The future governance of the Auckland region: the place of the tertiary education sector 2008
Submission

Peter McKinlay assisted the tertiary subcommittee of the Committee for Auckland in drafting its submission to the Royal Commission. The Committee’s evidence-based submission emphasises the need for closer integration between the planning and delivery of tertiary education services widely defined, and the region's economic and social development.

The future governance of the Auckland region: a discussion paper on possible options 2008
Paper
This paper looks at current trends in metropolitan governance internationally.

A discussion paper on amalgamation: lessons from international experience 2008
Paper
This paper considers arguments and research evidence for and against amalgamation as compared with other options for improving local government efficiency such as shared services.

A discussion paper on possible options for local governance - the role of scale, function and engagement in effective local governance 2008
Paper
This paper reviews options for governance at the neighbourhood or community level. The research it reviews suggests that Auckland, and by extension New Zealand, has a 'democratic deficit' at this level.

Different options for the structure of Auckland local government: observations on governance 2008
Paper

This paper draws together the themes from the three previous papers and presents a set of options for the future of metropolitan governance in Auckland.

Submission to the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance from the Local Government Centre 2008
Submission

This is the Centre's submission to the Royal Commission, setting out its recommendations.

Submission to the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance from the Local Government Centre: Additional hearings material 2008
Paper
This paper sets out additional evidence and argument in support of the Centre's submission.
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