Democracy and Participation Reference Group


The purpose of the Taituarã Democracy and Participation Reference Group

  1. Assist the local government sector to achieve high standards in the conduct of democracy services and governance support activity
  2. In conjunction with other agencies, enhance public understanding of the role of local democracy within New Zealand’s system of governance, and public participation of local democracy

Scope

In promoting its purpose the DPRG focuses on:

    • identifying and promoting leading practice in democracy and governance support in line with the agreed Taituarā workplan endorsed by the Executive Board;
    • assisting local authorities and democracy/governance support staff to meet the requirements of the Local Government Act, Local Electoral Act, LGOIMA and any other associated statutes and regulations in line with the agreed Taituarā workplan endorsed by the Executive Board;
    • identifying policy and practice issues relating to the conduct of the democracy services and developing appropriate responses from a managerial and operational perspective, in line with the agreed Taituarā workplan endorsed by the Executive Board;
    • working with other agencies on programmes or projects that build community understanding of, and capacity to participate in, the local democratic process in line with the agreed Taituarā workplan endorsed by the Executive Board;
    • working with other agencies on programmes or projects which include effective means for building the capacity of Māori to contribute to, and encouraging the participation of Māori in, these processes, in line with the agreed Taituarā workplan endorsed by the Executive Board;
    • working with other agencies to promote participation in the local democratic process in line with the agreed Taituarā workplan endorsed by the Executive Board.

View/download the Democracy and Governance Support Reference Group Terms of Reference.

Current Members

Chair

Carol Hayward, Team Leader Operations and Policy - Auckland Council

Members

Robyn Byrne, Team Leader Governance, Nelson City Council

Jenni Cochrane, Communications Manager - Matamata-Piako District Council

Naell Crosby-Roe, Governance and Stakeholder Services Manager - Queenstown Lakes District Council

Steve Groom, Governance Manager, Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Steffi Haefeli, Manager Democracy Services, Kapiti Coast District Council

Oonagh Hopkins, Executive Director Corporate Planning and Governance, Rotorua Lakes Council

Sarah McLeay, Team Leader Democracy Services, Waikato Regional Council

Heidi Mueller, Elected Member Support Team Leader, Wellington City Council

Julie Straka, Governance Lead - New Plymouth District Council

Hannah White, Democracy Governance Manager - Palmerston North City Council

Rebecca Williams, Community Development Advisor - Central Otago District Council