A great understanding of the sector

Our local government clients are required to operate and demonstrate accountability in a complex political, financial and regulatory environment.  The successful performance of core functions requires the support of legal advisers with an excellent understanding of that environment, as well as superior technical legal skills.

Clients and services

Buddle Findlay is principal legal adviser to Christchurch City Council, Selwyn District Council and Hurunui District Council, and is a significant provider to the new Auckland Council. 

Prior to the creation of the new Auckland Council on 1 November 2010, Buddle Findlay advised Auckland City Council, Rodney District Council, Waitakere City Council, Auckland Regional Holdings and Metrowater.

We are specialist advisers to a number of other local authorities around New Zealand including Nelson City Council, Hutt City Council, Waikato Regional Council, Marlborough District Council and South Waikato District Council, and have provided project-based advice to others including Waitomo District Council, Matamata-Piako District Council and Taupo District Council.

We also advise local government entities including the Local Government Commission, and we advise the Department of Internal Affairs on local government policy issues.

We are experts in relation to the following legislation:

  • Local Government Acts (1974 and 2002)
  • Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Act 2009
  • Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009
  • Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Act 2008
  • Resource Management Act 1991
  • Building Act 2004
  • Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 (and its predecessor, the Rating Powers Act 1988)
  • Rating Valuations Act 1998
  • Local Government and Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
  • Local Authorities (Members’ Interests) Act 1968
  • Protected Disclosures Act 2000
  • Local Electoral Act 2001
  • Bylaws Act 1910
  • Public Works Act 1981
  • Public Bodies Leases Act 1969
  • Reserves Act 1977
  • Sale of Liquor Act 1989
  • Health Act 1956
  • Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
  • Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act 2002

Recent work

  • Advising Auckland City Council on its submissions in respect of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance and the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill
  • Preparing a report on the liquor bylaw regime under the Local Government Act for the Department of Internal Affairs
  • Acting for the Waikato Regional Council on 4 appeals to the Environment Court regarding statutory planning documents for the coastal environment and in particular, a new set of rules and policies for marina development throughout the region.  
  • Acting for the Department of Internal Affairs at various stages during the drafting and promulgation of the Local Government Act 2002
  • Advising Local Government New Zealand and the Department of Internal Affairs on several of the KNOWHOW projects including governance and regulatory
  • Acting for Auckland City Council on the acquisition of the Westhaven and Hobson West Marinas from Ports of Auckland, one of the largest transactions ever undertaken by a local authority in New Zealand
  • Advising Hutt City Council on a comprehensive review of current bylaws and representation and governance arrangements required to be undertaken pursuant to the Local Government Act 2002
  • Acting for Waimakiriri District Council as applicant in its successful application for resource consents to establish an ocean outfall for treated wastewater and advising on the subsequent process for letting contracts for this work
  • Advising Auckland City Council on GST on financial contributions
  • Advising Auckland City Council on the sale of City Design
  • Acting for Auckland City Council, Manukau City Council and Waitakere City Council in their capacity as shareholders of Auckland Regional Transport Network, and on the reorganisation of the ARTNL group
  • Acting for Auckland City Environments (the regulatory arm of Auckland City) on a range of matters including judicial review proceedings in the High Court, enforcement matters and appeals in the Environment Court
  • Advising Auckland City Environments on enforcement issues associated with implementing the Auckland Brothels Bylaw
  • Acting for Environment Waikato on appeals against the Marinas Variation to the Proposed Waikato Regional Coastal Plan
  • Providing advice on financial contributions to Central Hawkes Bay District Council
  • Acting for Hutt City Council regarding the petition under the Local Electoral Act challenging the poll on the basis for elections
  • Advising Hutt City Council on its review of representation arrangements
  • Advising Nelson City Council on its contractual arrangements for the Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit
  • Preparing a report on an Infringement Offence Regime for bylaw breaches for the Department of Internal Affairs

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