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SOLGM Annual Summit
We've already had some very positive feedback about our Summit held earlier this week in Palmerston North. The outstanding contributions of our keynote speakers - Dr Martin Reeves, Pat Martel, Dr Kathy Alexander and Hon Steve Maharey, the stimulating discussions at our nine workshops and the insightful comments of our MC, broadcaster Kim Hill made for a very worthwhile three days. We'd like to thank all the workshop chairs, their panellists and the local Summit steering group for the work they put in to helping make the Summit such a success.
One of the highlights was the Women in Local Government Breakfast. To keep the momentum going following the inspirational presentation by ICMA president, Pat Martel we've created a new LGConnect discussion group WOMENINLG for everyone interested in this subject. Anyone with a local government email address can join this group, or any of the 100+ other groups, for free at LGConnect.co.nz. To subscribe directly to the WOMENINLG group only this link will open an email which you just need to send (no changes required).
We’ll be doing a full report on the Summit in the next issue of our Pulse e-magazine, due out in early December. In the meantime check out the updates and photos posted on Facebook. Congratulations goes to Masterton District Council who won the best costume prize at our “The Future is Now” Tuesday night dinner – a well deserved win.
SOLGM Local Government Excellence Awards® open for entries
At the Summit our President, Barbara McKerrow announced that entries are now open for the 2016 SOLGM Local Government Excellence Awards®.
The Awards celebrate the very best in professional excellence in local government management and are open to all New Zealand Local Authorities and Council Controlled Organisations. The five project categories available in 2016 are:
- Innovation in Organisation and People Development
- Transforming Service Delivery
- Innovation in Council-Community Relations
- Collaborative Government Action
- Innovation in Policy and Regulatory Development
For the first time in 2016 we are also offering an Emerging Leader of the Year Award. This Award is for emerging leaders who have a proven track record of designing or delivering programmes, projects, processes or practices that demonstrate innovative and successful approaches with an identifiable community impact.
More information on the Awards including the Nomination Form for the Emerging Leader of the Year Award and the Entry Form for the project Awards can be found in our website here.
2016 Annual Gala Dinner
The winners of these Awards will be announced at the 2016 SOLGM Gala Dinner on 14 April in Wellington. As well as the winners of the 2016 SOLGM Local Government Excellence Awards® the following announcements will also be made at the Gala Dinner:
- The recipients of our Overseas Manager Exchanges
- Our Leadership Scholarships
- The winning team from the New Zealand leg of the Australasian Management Challenge. Registrations for the Challenge opened last week.
The Marketplace
This is a new initiative for 2016 and will provide exhibition space for councils entering the Awards to showcase their projects to both other councils and representatives from central government. The Marketplace will be open at Mac’s Function Centre, the same venue as the Dinner, from mid-afternoon on the 14th of April. I will send you more details on this closer to the date.
More information on the Gala Dinner and The Marketplace can be found here or the following people will also be able to help:
- For further information on the Awards please contact Raymond Horan, Manager, Sector Improvement – raymond.horan@solgm.org.nz or phone 04 978 1283.
- For information on the Emerging Leader of the Year Award please contact Natalie Stevens, Manager, Learning and Development – Natalie.stevens@solgm.org.nz or phone 04 978 1272.
- For information on the Gala Dinner and The Marketplace please contact Jeanette Bullen, Manager, Marketing and Communications – Jeanette.bullen@solgm.org.nz or phone 04 978 1288.
Upcoming SOLGM Events
Local Government Funding and Rating Forum on in Wellington 19 & 20 November: This Forum will provide a wealth of information on current funding and rating policy issues and challenges across the sector.
Webinar: Health and Safety 101 - 23 November: Clarifying and understanding your responsibilities under the new Health and Safety Reforms
Webinar: How Local Government Works Induction Series Q&A Session - 25 November
Open Data Workshop with Laura Manley- this is a half day workshop on in Wellington on 1 December
This is a joint workshop with the Association of Local Government Information Management (ALGIM). Laura is the Co-Founder for the Centre for Open Data Enterprise in Washington DC. As an open data advocate, Laura co-developed and launched the Gov Lab’s Open Data 500, the first comprehensive study of companies that use open government data to generate new business and develop new products and services.
Webinar: Health and Safety 102 - 8 December: What does it look like and who should I turn to for advice.
Webinar: Local Government in Austerity: Lessons from England - 2 December: This webinar explores the complex nature of fiscal constraint and which financial mechanisms have been employed to protect council services.
Save the Date for the following events as well, which will be in our Event Calendar shortly:
Health and Safety Training - the two H&S webinars listed above will be followed by trainings in these locations around New Zealand. Save the date now for the training closest to you:
- Christchurch: 9 February 2016
- Dunedin: 10 February 2016
- Auckland: 16 February 2016
- Palmerston North: 17 February 2016
Project Management Course - 4 & 5 February 2016 in Wellington
The SOLGM 45 South Branch Retreat is on 3 & 5 February 2016 in Wanaka
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