Auditor-General’s report, Matters arising from our audits of the 2018-28 long-term plans

The Auditor-General’s report Matters arising from our audits of the 2018-28 long-term plans was presented to the House of Representatives today.

This report brings together findings from the audits of councils’ 2018-28 long-term plans (LTPs). Because of the services provided by councils, they need to plan well, often many years in advance, to ensure that they deliver these services for the long term, to a standard their communities want and can afford.

The 2018-28 LTPs show significant increases in planned asset investment in order to respond to growth, increasing levels of service, and in some cases historic underinvestment. This comes at a cost and some growth councils are starting to reach the debt limits that they have set. Further, councils need to better understand the condition and performance of their most critical assets to support better planning.

LTPs are a fundamental tool for communities to hold their council to account. They add value by presenting a transparent view of the outcomes being pursued, their expected time frames, and the trade-offs that have been made. However, some LTPs are long and detailed, with many disclosures prescribed. Consideration should be given to the required content of the plans to ensure that they continue to be effective as planning and accountability documents.

Councils have a lot to grapple with. Central and local government need to work together to ensure that the issues (for example, the impact of climate change) faced by our cities, districts, and regions are addressed in the best way for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

This report is also available as an epub and a two-page summary.

Submission on safeguarding the future of our financial system: The role of the Reserve Bank and how it should be governed

As part of phase 2 of the Reserve Bank Act Review, the Treasury has issued a consultation document which looks at the financial policy framework for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and how it should evolve. We’ve published our written submission on our website.

New website

We’ve recently updated our website. This includes adding a new section featuring our good practice guides, and a new home for our blog posts and school resources. Have a look and let us know what you think about our new site.

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