Can localism deliver democracy 2.0 and sustainable development for Aotearoa?

SuperLocal23 conference conclusions

We need to quickly evolve our local government system, if we want it to serve our wellbeing needs in a fast-changing world. And we need to get serious about knowing the real priorities for funding. ?Radical change is unlikely in the short-term, but seems inevitable to genuinely address current systemic shortcomings. The system we have is not capable of:

• Making good long-term decisions that use increasingly limited resources efficiently
• Authentically reflecting te Tiriti obligations
• Achieving acceptable levels of wellbeing for all

Day 2 of the SuperLocal LGNZ conference boiled down to 3 main themes with an epic conclusion from former-refugee, MV Tampa survivor and wonderful story-teller, Abbas Nazari.

The 3 big themes:

1. The democratic machinery in Aotearoa is systemically flawed and was never designed to deliver the universal benefits we want it to. A 3-year term and the adversarial Westminster model are just parts of the problem; and the Future For Local Government reforms may just be more patches on a fundamentally unsuitable system. Is Aotearoa New Zealand bold enough to step away from our English political legacy and shape a new one tailored to our unique needs? Can we lead the world with democracy 2.0 that is fit for the challenges that lie ahead for our children and mokopuna?
2. Localism and the devolution of power is a clear global trend – hence SuperLocal and Choose Localism for the 2023 conference. More local decision-making can reinforce community identity and engagement, as well as the autonomy / mana motuhake communities need to thrive. The challenge, we were reminded, is that no one likes to give away power.?Yet, the opportunity could be to restore severely eroded trust levels between central and local government; and to re-engage young people in civic decisions.?Are we ready to demand a genuine devolution of power back from central government to re-empower our local communities?
3. Long-term thinking and good strategic investment decisions need a radical departure from current politics. Depoliticizing long-term planning and infrastructure decisions is a fundamental part of that. Can we look to other countries and existing local practices proven to foster intelligent discussion and sound future-focused decisions? Should we spend longer on up-front hui, wānanga and meaningful community engagement to make sure the decisions we make are actually the right ones? ?Consultation doesn’t work, we know that.?We need a system that enables meaningful participation, good information and intelligent long-term decisions.

Politician scorecard

Most people I spoke to thought that Christopher Luxon did a better job of connecting with the audience than PM Chris Hipkins. Still, everyone agreed that actions will speak louder than words for both.

Personally, I thought Kieran McAnulty, the Minister for Local Government had the right approach in abandoning his speech and just taking questions from the audience. He connected well, came across as authentic and seemed to be on top of all the issues.

More money for localism and mobility, but where will it come from?

Central government concedes that the ratepayer funding model is broken and not fit for purpose. With central government taking about 90% of total taxes, more needs to be distributed to local communities; not through contested funding rounds (which pit neighbouring districts against each other), but with more strategic application and prioritisation.?We need to get better at deciding which projects are the real priorities that should go to the front of the queue.

But, the question left for me was: where will that money come from??Which government projects will go unfunded, and/or where will the government get more money from??What are the real priorities??Our health and education systems are already woefully underfunded… so what happens if more money goes to councils for roads, water, waste management etc?

Auckland Transport’s CEO, Dean Kimpton, pointed out that Auckland, and probably most other communities, has just 50% of the funding actually needed to meet mobility and transport infrastructure needs. He noted that we have consistently failed to fund communities' aspirations, which leaves them as mere rhetoric floating amongst an infrastructure deficit.

Managed retreat – people first not process

Handling these situations well is all about the people; rather than planning and process. We need to engage, listen, empathise and support. People won’t want to move until they have to, so we'll need to be ready and prepared to help them when the worst happens.

Referring to Grantham in Queensland, Jamie Simmonds explained with some good humour how, once people are ready to move, it can be done quickly and efficiently if councils are determined and innovative.

Renata Hakiwai from flood affected Omahu in the Hawkes Bay reminded us that discussions about disconnecting people from their whenua are emotional and delicate. Engage, listen, empathise and support - don't try to rush it and don’t tell people what to do.?Renata’s story also reminded us about the importance of community infrastructure, having places where people can come to talk any time.

Governments will need to establish some ground rules for how community relocation and rebirthing happens.?And, based on Renata’s experience in Omahu, insurance companies are going to need to get much better at understanding how to look after their customers during times of incredible distress.?

After The Tampa: From Afghanistan to New Zealand

The day finished with Abbas Nazari's inspiring and brilliantly-delivered story about his family's escape from Afghanistan as refugees, and their subsequent rescue on the MV Tampa.

Abbas’ gratitude for Aotearoa NZ boiled over into the room with an infectious warmth.?He’s an energised, entertaining and compelling speaker with a powerful story. ?I'd recommend Abbas as a speaker for any event where you want to stir up some emotion; raise awareness about what being a migrant in Aotearoa really means; and help people remember just how lucky we are to have the things we take for granted every day.?

I’m sure Abbas will thank me for recommending his book to you, which outsold books published by Simon Bridges and Sonny Bill Williams around the same time.?Oh, and he also grew up on the same street as Richie Mo’unga and taught him everything he knew about rugby.

Final insights – real community priorities

In conclusion, amongst all the challenges there’s a common thread.?

We need be really clear about our priorities and what we want to achieve with the increasingly limited resources we have available.?Yet, the government system defaults to short-term thinking, competing needs and a lack of foresight.?How can we find the time to step back, see the system for what it really is, understand the current and likely future constraints, and do some good community thinking about priorities?

Well-informed discussions will help; but discussion without action is not helpful. I’ve been involved in the past with these sorts of discussions and initiatives: Maukau 2050, Nelson 2060 and Queenstown’s Shaping our Future programme.?All are well intended and created some great ideas that were owned by the community… but how many of those ideas were properly funded and well-implemented?

The current community outcomes process probably doesn’t cut it – it’s generally too high level and results in outcomes that try to be all things to all people.

A meaningful commitment to sustainable development needs a clear vision of the future, carefully articulated goals, defined priorities, clear metrics, new ways of working and the courage to do things differently. ?A framework to guide decisions is a vital compass; and the Wales’ example is a helpful model for others to follow.?

Finally, a big thanks to the LGNZ team for putting on one of the best conferences I’ve been too. And huge credit to ōtautahi Christchurch for the new Te Pae convention centre – what an amazing venue!

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