Call for four-year term in local government amplifies

LGNZ is renewing calls for a four-year term for local government.

This follows the Government agreeing today to introduce legislation that would enable a four-year term of Parliament, subject to a referendum.

LGNZ President Sam Broughton says this legislation presents a strong opportunity to move to a four-year term for both central and local government.

“The LGNZ Electoral Reform Working Group was formed in June last year to address declining voter turnout in local body elections; just 41% of Kiwis voted in 2022,” says Sam Broughton.

“One of the key topics that came out in the Electoral Reform issues paper was a move to a four-year term for local body elections, something both councils and the public are in favour of.

“Last year a Curia poll showed 65% of people support this; specifically, 47% support a local four-year term and an additional 18% would support it if central government also had a four-year term.”

Electoral Reform Group Chair and Nelson Mayor, Hon Dr Nick Smith, says a four-year term makes good sense for both Parliament and councils.

“Any changes need to be done in tandem, or we will have the messy situation of local and national elections at the same time. Our strong preference is that the referendum allows for both local and national elections to be held every four years,” says Hon Dr Nick Smith.

“We welcome the opportunity to engage with the select committee and Parliament on having local elections included in the referendum legislation.”

Sam Broughton says there are several compelling reasons for councils to move to a four-year term.

“New Zealand’s current three-year term for local government is short by international standards; most OECD nations have a term length of four or more years in local government.

“Longer terms improve council’s ability to make decisions for the long term by providing more time to get things done. It also allows them to be more efficient and productive within this expanded window of time.”

Sam Broughton says that proper alignment with central government elections has been a key concern for local councils.

“Having a larger overlap in productive windows between central and local government will also foster greater collaboration and increase joint delivery, while decreasing the impact of changes in direction after elections - at either level.

“On the flip side, if Government moved to a four-year Parliamentary term and local government didn’t then key events and processes - such as planning and budgeting cycles - would align differently every term.”

Following the close of public submissions for the Electoral Reform issues paper, a draft position paper will be released in March. The final version of this position paper will be launched at LGNZ’s SuperLocal Conference in July.