The Auditor-General’s report Local government: Results of the 2015/16 audits was presented to the House of Representatives today.

This report presents the results of our 2015/16 local government audits, including financial results and trends. We have identified some matters of concern that require attention, including the need for local authorities to consider whether they are sufficiently reinvesting in their assets, underspending their capital budgets, and local authorities’ timeliness of publicly releasing their audited information and summary annual reports.

The report considers a 2016 High Court interim judgment on the rating practices of Northland Regional Council and Kaipara District Council, and how this judgment might affect other local authorities. As such, we recommend that local authorities check their rates-collecting arrangements for lawfulness.

This report discusses our recent and ongoing work in the local government sector, including performance audits and inquiry requests. The report notes that the Office will continue to monitor the Whanganui wastewater treatment plant development and the proposed Ruataniwha water supply scheme and provides some background to these two matters.

The report also looks at how local authorities have responded to changes to the Local Government Act 2002 about consulting on annual plans.

A two-page summary of this report is also available.

You can read our local government-related publications on our website.

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