Archives - pre-2002
Partnership: Local Authorities and Communities
October 2001
There is a fast-growing movement in local government towards working in partnership with the local community sector, in pursuit of better community outcomes. MDL has been working with a number of local authorities reviewing community sector relationships from a partnership perspective, and particularly how partnership fits into contract-based funding of community group activity. Even though in concept partnership is in many ways a natural extension of the role of local authorities in the development of their communities, in practice, as many local authorities have found, successful partnerships are not always easily achieved. There is no 'off the shelf' product guaranteed to work but there is a body of experience to draw on and tools to use. Each circumstance requires a very clear idea of what is meant by partnership, what is expected to be gained from it and how it will be maintained. To find out more, contact Adrienne von Tunzelmann.
Boardroom Practice
May 2001
Public sector boards share with their corporate counterparts the need for sound board procedures that are up to date with contemporary best practice and add value to the organisation. With these in mind the New Zealand Qualifications Authority commissioned a review of its Board Manual. MDL produced a comprehensively revised new draft Manual. Its main features are an emphasis on the governing role of the Board and its strategic responsibilities, governance principles, guidance on conflicts of interest, committee roles and the board-management relationship. It includes a user's guide to the Manual. NZQA's brief for the review highlighted issues of general interest and application to public sector boards. The approach taken to producing a revised manual is a useful model for governing bodies in central and local government. To find out more, contact Adrienne von Tunzelmann.
Adrienne von Tunzelmann Leading Workshop Series for Local Government on Good Practice Guide
May 2001
The Good Practice Guide for Local Authorities in the Funding and Resourcing of Community Organisations, launched in February 2000, is in strong demand by both local authorities and community organisations. In conjunction with Local Government New Zealand, MDL has been presenting on a series of workshops for local government managers and councillors. Workshops have already taken place up and down the country, each hosted by a local authority and attended by people from other local authorities in the region. Further workshops can be held on request.
Social Housing
January 2001
The Executive Summary to the social housing report, Local Government and Community Involvement in Management and Ownership of Social Housing is now in our library. Enquiries regarding the full report can be directed to Peter McKinlay or Adrienne von Tunzelmann.
Social Housing
August 2000
MDL is undertaking a project jointly with the Ministry of Social Policy, Local Government New Zealand and selected local authorities to identify potentially fruitful models/options for developing a partnership approach to social housing. The primary emphasis will be on partnerships with local government and the voluntary/community sector. Comment, questions and input are welcome to Adrienne von Tunzelmann.
Science Funding
August 2000
Indications are that this is one area in which the new government is generally supportive of the direction which the previous government had set. Priority areas include the governance of Crown Research Institutes including vexed questions such as the conditions under which CRIs can raise further equity and whether allowing CRIs to act as principals in the commercialisation of new technology has had the effect of crowding out the private sector. We continue to take a close interest in these issues which were identified in the ongoing work we have been undertaking for the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology. Enquiries about this should be addressed to Peter McKinlay.
SOLGM/LGNZ Seminar on the Use of Trusts in Local Government
August 2000
Peter McKinlay gave the overview address setting out the strategic and policy issues which local authorities should consider when thinking about the establishment of trusts and comparing their advantages and disadvantages with other options. A copy is available in our library.
The Strategic Role of Local Government
August 2000
With new emphasis which the Government is placing on the role of local government Peter McKinlay has updated a privately circulated paper on the strategic role of local government prepared after discussions in England last year. We publish it as a contribution to what is clearly becoming a major debate. The paper is available in our library.
Electricity industry reform
July 2000
Peter McKinlay's paper to the Electricity Reform Conference takes issue with the recommendations of the Inquiry into the Electricity Industry on the governance of trusts and argues that the Government needs to legislate an accountability framework for trusts reflecting their role as custodians of very substantial public wealth. The paper available in our library.
Social responsibility - business challenge
June 2000
Peter McKinlay's paper to the Redesigning Resources Conference argues that corporate social responsibility is value adding for shareholders and goes on to argue the case for a new business model to match New Zealand conditions. The paper is available in our library.
Control in the Public Sector: A Look at our Reforms
April 2000
This month Peter McKinlay was guest presenter to a seminar for Victoria University's Master of Public Management programme, giving an overview of the control mechanisms New Zealand has developed for the public sector. We believe that Peter's insights are worth sharing with a wider audience and so have posted his notes in our library.
Public Ownership and the Community
March 2000
Peter McKinlay's book Public Ownership and the Community was launched by the The Hon. Bill English, Treasurer on 8 July 1999. We are pleased to report that the book is leading to a major reappraisal of the role of trusts and their accountability, as well as to a broader reconsideration of the ownership and management of public wealth held outside central government. It is possible already to identify some very specific initiatives resulting from the book with the potential to change quite fundamentally the way in which communities think about the wealth held on their behalf.
Public Wealth
March 2000
We have just completed the first stage of an assignment looking at the optimal conditions for the ongoing public ownership and management of a very significant equity investment. The amount of wealth involved is sufficiently large for choices about its use to have a major impact on the future development of the region in which it is held. Our work raises important questions about the way in which local authorities interpret the responsibilities they have under the Local Government Act as well as about the continuing appropriateness of some of the decisions made in the 1989 local government restructuring. This is one of a number of factors which has led us to consider a sequel to "Public Ownership and the Community."
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