New Zealand Legislation: Acts

3 Purpose

• The purpose of this Act is to provide for democratic and effective local government that recognises the diversity of New Zealand communities; and, to that end, this Act—

  • (a) states the purpose of local government; and

  • (b) provides a framework and powers for local authorities to decide which activities they undertake and the manner in which they will undertake them; and

  • (c) promotes the accountability of local authorities to their communities; and

  • (d) provides for local authorities to play a broad role in promoting the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of their communities, taking a sustainable development approach.