Local councils and public consultation: extending the reach of democracy

This article considers public consultation in the context of New Zealand local government. Although by international standards New Zealand possesses a rich culture of citizen engagement and public consultation (OECD, 2015), the quality of consultation presents itself as a problem to local government, as their efforts have often been perceived as unsatisfactory (Asquith, 2012; Barrett, 2011; Barrett and Scott, 2008; Bond, 2007; Cheyne, 2015; Woodward, 2016). New Zealand’s consultation environment is particular too, in that local government engagement with Maori, including with iwi organisations such as runanga, with matawaka (Maori living outside the rohe of their iwi affiliations) and via central government, is integral to decision-making processes (Ryks, Pearson and Waa, 2016). We begin by sketching some theoretical underpinnings of consultation, and the legislative requirements for consultation in New Zealand. We then consider two examples – Loomio in Wellington and Share an Idea in Christchurch – before signalling some areas in which public consultation could be improved and local government can increase its democratic efficacy.