On 16 March, Local Government NZ President Lawrence Yule addressed the Commonwealth Local Government Forum conference.  His speech was titled The Role Of Local Government In Energising Local Economies.  Mayor Yule (of Hastings District Council) discussed some of the challenges facing local government in its efforts to support local economic development, and outlined LGNZ’s five-point framework for the sector, which is underpinned by “sustainability, place shaping, and Māori”.

Highlighted as one of two examples of innovative and successful approaches by local government was Opotiki’s aquaculture development, where Mayor Yule cited the “…enabling and can-do attitude in local government, central government, iwi, organisations and agencies…” which had overcome roadblocks and resulted in economic benefits for the region.

The full speech can be viewed at the LGNZ website http://www.lgnz.co.nz/news/pr1300654410.pdf.