Since February 2026 what is the number of local government Councillors that have personally written to the Minister with a complaint or concern regarding the Council they are elected to, and if any, what Council were they elected to, what was their complaint or concern about, and how many of these complaints or concerns has he addressed by written response to the complainant's Council and/or Mayor of Council?

Answer

As the Minister I am responsible for the legislative framework within which councils operate. Councils are responsible for manging matters related to their own governance and administration and should have appropriate processes in place to manage any complaints about a council or its members, primarily in accordance with their Code of Conduct and Standing Orders frameworks. Given the work that would be required to determine and compile potential councillor complaints from general correspondence, particularly for matters which should be addressed by internal council processes or escalated to the Ombudsman thereafter, I do not consider it in the public interest. I will occasionally be asked by councillors to investigate a council or undertake actions in accordance with my powers under Part 10 of the Local Government Act 2002. Since February 2026, I received one request to utilise these powers in relation to the Far North District Council, my letter to the Mayor in relation to this issue has been circulated in public channels and reported on extensively already.