On 15 November, the Auditor-General issued declarations under section 6 of the Local Authorities (Members’ Interests) Act 1968 to several Councillors at Otago Regional Council. The Councillors have a financial interest in freshwater planning decisions, and applied for declarations to enable them to participate in discussions and decisions relating to ORC’s new Land and Water Regional Plan.

The declarations applied only to the Councillors’ financial interests in the new plan. They don't apply to any non-financial conflicts of interest the Councillors may have.

We have published this note because it will be helpful for councillors with financial interests in plans under the Resource Management Act 1991.

The Ministry for the Environment notes that all regional councils and unitary authorities need to have amended freshwater policy statements and plans notified by the end of 2024 and operational by 2026.

For the benefit of other councils whose members might have financial interests in freshwater planning decisions, this note:

• sets out our key findings in more detail; and
• provides a checklist of information to include in an application about a plan change.

We’d like your feedback: Our website includes a feedback form. Please tell us if you found our information useful.

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Gordon Campbell: On The New Government’s Policies Of Yesteryear

Winston Peters is routinely described as the kingmaker who decides whether the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded, but equally important role as the scapegoat who can be blamed for killing taxes that his senior partners never much wanted in the first place. Neither Ardern nor Robertson for example, really wanted a capital gains tax, for fear of Labour copping the “tax and spend“ label they ended up being saddled with anyway. Usefully though, they could tell the party faithful it was wicked old Winston who killed the CGT. More