Introduced on April 5, the Bill is intended to provide greater flexibility to enable local electoral arrangements to adapt to changing circumstances. Its main provision is to support the conduct of “trials of novel voting methods”, such as on-line voting. Completed first reading on May 9 with all parties in agreement and sent to the Justice Committee for consideration. Report back extended from Nov 9 to Dec 8. Reported back on Dec 12 with minor changes including new powers to disallow elections. National expressed ongoing concern about the risks of on-line voting. Second reading debate completed on March 12 with all parties in agreement and committee stage on March 13. Third reading completed on April 2 all parties in favour.  Local Electoral Matters Bill

Introduced on October 14. This Bill amends the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010. The purpose of the amendment is to provide more flexibility for the Auckland Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel to help ensure it can deliver its recommendations on the proposed Auckland Unitary Plan to the Auckland Council by the statutory deadline of 50 working days before the expiry of 3 years from the notification of the proposed plan. Passed through all stages under Urgency with the third reading completed on Nov 19 with just the Greens opposing. Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Amendment Bill

Introduced on April 5. The Bill allows councils to expand their activities to promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities; and restores power to collect development contributions for any public amenities needed as a consequence of development. First reading completed on April 11 and referred to the Governance and Administration Committee. Strongly opposed by National and ACT. Reported back on October 3 with the evenly divided committee unable to agree on changes. Govt MPs said it should proceed with some changes around development contributions. National MPs said the Bill should be dumped.Second reading completed on April 9 with National opposed. Committee stage completed April 30 and third reading May 7. National and ACT opposed. Local Government (Community Well-being) Amendment Bill

Members Bill in the name of Jacqui Dean drawn from the ballot on June 18. The Bill amends the Local Government Act requiring local authorities to promote a customer focus to delivering public services and regulatory functions. First reading on July 29 and voted down by Labour, NZ First and the Greens. Local Government (Customer Focus) Amendment Bill

Member’s bill in the name of Cushla Tangaere-Manuel drawn from the ballot on Dec 7. It seeks to amend the Local Government Act to permanently allow local authority members to participate in local authority meetings remotely and be counted towards quorum for those meetings. Defeated at first reading on Feb 29 with National, Act and NZ First opposed.

Local Government (Facilitation of Remote Participation) Amendment Bill

A Bill in the name of Labour’s Tangi Utikere drawn from the ballot and introduced on July 1. The bill sets up a pecuniary interest register for local council along the lines of those in place for MPs and ministers. First reading Sept 22 supported by all parties and sent to the Governance and Administration Committee. Reported back on March 22 with a number of mainly technical amendments, but also extending the coverage to local community boards. Second reading on April 6 with govt MPs indicating there would be further minor changes in the committee stage and all parties in support. Committee stage complete on April 16. Third reading on May 18 with just Act opposed saying it did not address problems with local government.

Local Government (Pecuniary Interests Register) Amendment Bill

Introduced on Feb 27, the Bill reforms local govt rating law in regards to Māori land. Allows councils to write off rates arrears on any land where they cannot be recovered. Allows for greater powers to class such land as non-rateable and sets up a remissions process for Māori freehold land under development. First reading on March 12, opposed by National and ACT and sent to the Māori Affairs Committee. Report back extended from June 29 to August 3. Reported back on Aug 6 with minor amendments. Second reading on March 16 with National and ACT opposed. Committee stage March 17 and third reading on April 16 with National and ACT remaining opposed. Local Government (Rating of Whenua Māori) Amendment Bill 

Introduced on June 9 2016. The bill allows the Local Government Commission to initiate its own investigations in relation to reorganisations. The Bill also includes a provision for local authority-led reorganisations to be able to make submissions on reorganisation, including the establishment of multiply owned CCOs, joint governance arrangements, transfers of powers, boundary changes, and amalgamations. Completed its first reading on June 15 with the Greens and NZ First opposed. Labour indicated its support was conditional. Referred to Local Government and Environment Committee with submissions due by July 27. Already facing fierce opposition from councils with 97% of Local Govt NZ’s members voting in favour of vigorous opposition to any measure in the Bill removing the requirement for community consultation and support in reorganisation investigations and local decision-making of councils or their assets. The Local Government and Environment Select Committee has finished its hearings and was due to report back to the House by October 28 . However the report back deadline has been pushed back to March 31 2017. Report deadline pushed back again to June 16. Reported back with a large number of amendments. Labour, Greens and NZ First wrote a minority view saying while the Bill had improved they had too many misgivings about it to giver their support. Their objections centre around concerns the Bill will give greater central govt control and increase  corporatisation. Completed second reading on June 29 by one vote with National, ACT and United Future in support.  Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta said she would introduce changes in the committee stage to disestablish the Local Government Commission in its current form. Once enacted, all reorganisation requests, except for those already accepted by the LGC, will need to meet new requirements for significant community support. Committee stage completed on Oct 15 with amendments passed as earlier suggested by minister. Third reading on Oct 16 with National and ACT opposed. Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 2)

Introduced on July 26, and omnibus bill addressing various matters around the elections of local councils. Opposition parties have focused on sections design to increase Māori representation on councils. Other aspects include changing the current restriction on the number of councillors on Auckland Council and simplifying the process for unitary authorities to adjust local board boundaries. First reading Aug 2 opposed by National and Act referred to the Governance and Administration Committee. Reported back on Dec 20 with a number of changes. Second reading on April 4 with National and Act opposed. Remaining stages completed on Aug 22 with National and Act opposed.

Local Government Electoral Legislation Bill

Introduced on Nov 22. The main part of the bill requires local councils to clearly publish natural hazard information including forecast climate change impacts on Land Information Memorandums. It also limits legal liability if the information is published in good faith, but not if information is withheld. First reading under urgency on Nov 22 with all parties in favour and sent to the Governance and Administration Committee. Passed through all remaining stages under Urgency on July 18 with all parties in favour.

Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Bill