Local government

New Zealand First has often called for such a devolution of power. If they achieve that in coalition talks, it would be a legacy to be proud of.

“The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else.”

Because central government is so dominant, New Zealanders instinctively look at central government to deal with their local issues.

We have a choice in New Zealand if we are satisfied with our status quo and content to keep fighting the same old political battles for the next decades. Alternatively, we could break out of our old ways and try something radically new.

It is high time we brought policy-making closer to local communities. Let’s follow the British example and end the love affair with centralised control. Let’s allow local councils to take charge of their own matters.

What if New Zealand’s towns and cities had the freedom to deviate from national legislation?

George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, delivered nothing short of a revolution to the way that Britain is governed. A radical devolution of power and money from central government in London to the cities of the UK has begun.

It is vital that well-performing, growth friendly councils get rewarded for their actions. In this way, we can turn councils into enablers of economic development.