Ngā kawa whakahaere o te kāwanatanga ā-rohe Local government codes of conduct

The Commission's work on a standardised code of conduct.

LGC Consultation - Standardised Code of Conduct 

The Local Government Commission has developed a draft standardised code of conduct, and we are seeking your feedback. Please send your feedback via email to lgc@lgc.govt.nz  

Background

In February 2025 the Minister of Local Government referred to the Commission the task of developing of a standardised code of conduct for local authorities. The Terms of Reference can be found here.  Since early June the Commission has met with and heard the views of stakeholders about codes of conduct and what a standardised code could include. We undertook surveys with the sector and developed a stakeholder group to test ideas.  

Read the Terms of Reference

 Response: from the Minister of Local Government - Local Government Codes of Conduct (PDF, 462 KB)

The Code

Read: Draft standard code of conduct

The draft code aims to respond to the requirements of the terms of reference and the feedback from engagements to date. In particular, the draft code:  

  • Prioritises constructive and proactive dispute resolution before making complaints 
  • Gives opportunity for early resolutions and early off-ramps for complaints
  • Provides for complaints to be largely dealt with independently by an investigator rather than in-house, including giving investigators decision-making of sanctions 
  • Aims to balance the needs of natural justice (enabling a member to properly defend themselves against a complaint) versus ensuring the safety of complainants
  • Satisfy public interest (as recognised in LGOIMA) and accountability of elected members, while maintaining right to privacy under the Privacy Act 
  • Balancing between an absolute right to freedom of expression with the need to use that freedom responsibly 
  • Minimises the role of Chief Executives in the process 
  • Allows the public to lodge complaints. 

Some existing codes of conduct include guidance and contextual material. This has not been included in the draft code we have prepared. The draft code attempts to focus engagement on the key elements of a code – expected behaviors and the process for dealing with complaints and breaches. Therefore, content within the code is mainly restricted to these matters and any guidance will be considered separately as supporting material for the standardised code.  When giving feedback we would appreciate your thoughts on what materials may support the implementation of this code, so that we can consider these as part of our recommendations under the Terms of Reference.  

Your Feedback

We welcome all perspectives—whether they align with or differ from what the draft code currently contains. The code is not final, and we value every response, especially the reasoning behind your views. Your insights help ensure the code is both practical and inclusive. Please send your feedback to lgc@lgc.govt.nz by Friday 26 September 2025.

Out of Scope

Throughout the engagement process we have heard feedback about other topics that relate to the code including:

  • Penalties and sanctions
  • Control over staff behaviour
  • Disqualification from office as a potential penalty
  • Creation of offences

 These are out of scope and relate to the work the Department of Internal Affairs is undertaking.  Please direct any feedback related to these matters to LGconduct@dia.govt.nz

Additional Context

This work builds on the work the Commission undertook in 2021, as outlined below. The Commission must report back to the Minister by 20 December 2025.  The Commission will be researching and engaging over the next few months to gather information to help draft a standardised code. 

The Commission looked at the role of codes of conduct in local government, undertaking comprehensive engagement with the sector and stakeholders. It heard from every council and many of the country’s community boards through various avenues. The Commission's report discusses the main issues with codes and recommends ways to address them.

It is clear that codes of conduct sit firmly within a wider context as part of a suite of governance tools that need to be considered holistically. Through this engagement the Commission has identified a range of sector and legislative measures that could work together to support improvements to both conduct and codes.

The Commission presented its report to the Minister of Local Government in September 2021. The Minister of Local Government responded to the Commission on 28 April 2022.

Read the Commission's report

Report: to the Minister of Local Government - Local Government Codes of Conduct (PDF, 846 KB)

Read the Minister's response

Response: from the Minister of Local Government - Local Government Codes of Conduct (PDF, 462 KB)