LGNZ loses another Council

Stuff reports:

The West Coast Regional Council is the latest local authority to drop its paid membership of Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) – the body that represents New Zealand councils.

In 2022, the council put LGNZ on notice that it may not renew its annual membership.

This year’s annual invoice of $36,372 excluding GST failed to get backing at a council meeting on Tuesday. …

While there was evidence LGNZ could give value to the council on ‘big picture’ policy affecting councils, “the Three Waters debacle” still rankled.

“We don’t feel we’ve been represented,” Gibson said.

LGNZ needs to apologise for taking money from the Government in return for agreeing not to oppose Three Waters. They need to make clear that never again will they do this, and that their job is to promote the views of Councils to the Government not vice-versa.