Tono mō te wehenga o Wānaka Rohe me Upper Clutha Rohe 2023: Request for a separate Wānaka-Upper Clutha District
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Receipt of reorganisation initiative
On 27 March 2023 a group of electors of the Wānakā-Upper Clutha Ward of Queenstown-Lakes District lodged a reorganisation initiative with the Commission. The initiative seeks the constitution of a Wanaka-Upper Clutha District separate from Queenstown-Lakes District.
Initiative: Wanaka-Upper Clutha reorganisation (PDF, 1.79 MB)
Confirmation of initiative requirements
On 15 June 2023 the Commission agreed that the initiative included the content required by clause 4, Schedule 3, Local Government Act 2002.
The initiative was required to contain evidence that the group supporting it comprised at least 10% of electors in the affected area. This was confirmed by the Queenstown-Lakes District Electoral Officer on 30 May 2023.
Evidence: Confirmation from the Queenstown-Lakes District’s electoral officer (PDF, 154 KB)
Next step:
Commission consults with Queenstown-Lakes District Council before considering whether or not to carry out an investigation in respect of the initiative.
Information received from Queenstown-Lakes District Council
At its meeting on 17 August 2023 the Commission considered information received from Queenstown-Lakes District Council. The Commission agreed that there was insufficient information in the Council’s response to assess whether or not to investigate the reorganisation initiative under clause 6, Schedule 3 of the Local Government Act 2002 (NZ Legislation).
Clause 6, Schedule 3 of the Local Government Act 2002 (NZ Legislation Website)
The Commission agreed to:
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- Seek the views of the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board on the initiative;
- Seek the views of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu on the initiative;
- Seek further information from Queenstown-Lakes District Council on alternative methods that could be employed to promote good local government by enabling and facilitating improvements to local governance.
Next step:
Commission receives further information from the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Queenstown-Lakes District Council before considering whether or not to carry out an investigation in respect of the initiative.
Decision not to investigate reorganisation initiative
The Commission received further information from the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Queenstown-Lakes District Council between September and December 2023.
At its meeting on 13 December 2023 the Commission the information it had received against the factors in clause 6, Schedule 3 to the Local Government Act 2002 (NZ Legislation).
Clause 6, Schedule 3 of the Local Government Act 2002 (NZ Legislation Website)
The Commission decided that an investigation into the separate Wānaka-Upper Clutha district proposed by the initiative was not warranted because on balance:
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- The information received by the Commission does not sufficiently demonstrate that the purpose of the reorganisation is ‘to promote good local government by enabling and facilitating improvements to local governance’;
- There is little demonstrated potential scale and scope of improvements to local governance and services that might result from an investigation;
- There is the potential for negative effects arising from a reorganisation investigation, including costs and disruption for Queenstown-Lakes District Council and the Wānaka-Upper Clutha community;
- There does not appear to be an urgent need for a reorganisation investigation to be undertaken.
You can read a copy of the Commission’s decision here:
Recommendations made to promote good practice
At the same meeting on 13 December 2023, and in accordance with section 30(2)(b) of the Local Government Act 2002 (NZ Legislation), the Commission recommended that Queenstown-Lakes District Council undertake the following actions and develop an action plan, including specific timeframes and adequate resourcing where appropriate, for presentation to the Commission by 31 May 2024:
(a) Work with the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board and the key initiators of the reorganisation initiative to identify specific actions targeting improved communication, engagement, and transparency of information, including consideration of regular meetings and other council activities to be held in the Wānaka-Upper Clutha area, with a view to developing a stronger relationship between QLDC and Wānaka-Upper Clutha;
(b) Work with the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board to consider the potential value of developing measurement tools for assessing the allocation and prioritisation of council resources, projects and budgets across the district, with a view to ensuring that there is an equitable balance of resources, projects and budgets across the district;
(c) Work with the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board to explore options for further empowerment of the community board, including consideration of increased delegated decision-making power and provision of a budget for projects or activities in Wānaka-Upper Clutha;
(d) Approach representatives of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to seek any specific actions for strengthening the developing relationship between Queenstown-Lakes District Council and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the relevant rūnaka of Ngāi Tahu.
Section 30(2)(b) of the Local Government Act 2002 (NZ Legislation Website)
Queenstown-Lakes District Council response to Commission’s recommendations
QLDC has responded to the Commission's recommendations and request for an action plan.
You can find a copy of the action plan here: Wanaka-Upper Clutha Action Plan for the Local Government Commission - 31 May 2024 (377KB, PDF)
QLDC’s response demonstrates the Council is cognisant of public concerns, understands where improvements need to be made, and is taking necessary steps towards improving relations with the Wānaka-Upper Clutha community.
The Commission notes that satisfactory steps have been taken by QLDC to address communication, engagement and transparency of information at a district level and specifically for Wānaka-Upper Clutha. Within the allotted time frame QLDC have shown genuine effort to implement actions where possible and identify steps to continue to make improvements. The impact of some of these steps are yet to be demonstrated. Ensuring that these efforts are sustained and evaluated will give greater understand to their impacts.
The Commission has requested an update from QLDC in nine months. This timeframe allows QLDC to further implement and entrench actions and changes.
Additionally, to understand the Community Board’s views in response to these changes, the Commission has requested feedback from the Community Board at the same time as the update from QLDC.
Next Step:
Commission receives updates on the implementation and outcomes of the action plan by 31 May 2025.