David Farrar: Another Council leaves LGNZ

Radio NZ reports:

Western Bay of Plenty District Council is the latest council to leave national advocacy body Local Government New Zealand.

There were claims LGNZ had become “extremely political”, had swung “far left” and lacked professionalism.

As I understand it, the following Councils have left LGNZ:

• Auckland (1,798,300)

• Christchurch (415,100

• West Coast Region

• Grey (14,800)

• Kaipara (27,900

• Westland (9,430)

• Western BOP (62,000)

That’s 44% of NZ’s population no longer covered by LGNZ.

David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.