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# Never Mind the Rubbish, Feel the Well-being
- URL: https://goodoil.news/never-mind-the-rubbish-feel-the-well-being/
- Published: 2019-07-22T21:00:42.000Z
- Updated: 2019-07-25T06:23:45.000Z
- Author: WH
- Tags: NZ, NZ Politics, Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-17 04:14

In the good old days – before we were swamped with ‘well-being’ Local Authorities had some well defined and useful roles.

> **10 Purpose of local government**  
> (1) The purpose of local government is—  
> (a) to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and  
> (b) to meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.  
> (2) In this Act, good-quality, in relation to local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions, means infrastructure, services, and performance that are—  
> (a) efficient; and  
> (b) effective; and  
> (c) appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances.  
>  
> **11 Role of local authority**  
> The role of a local authority is to—  
> (a) give effect, in relation to its district or region, to the purpose of local government stated in section 10; and  
> (b) perform the duties, and exercise the rights, conferred on it by or under this Act and any other enactment.  
>  
> **11A Core services to be considered in performing role**  
> In performing its role, a local authority must have particular regard to the contribution that the following core services make to its communities:  
> (a) network infrastructure:  
> (b) public transport services:  
> (c) solid waste collection and disposal:  
> (d) the avoidance or mitigation of natural hazards:  
> (e) libraries, museums, reserves, and other recreational facilities and community amenities.  
>  
> [Local Government Act 2002 (pre-well-being)](http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/0084/176.0/DLM170873.html?ref=goodoil.news)

  
Obviously tasking the local council with such mundane things as public transport, rubbish collection and libraries etc was not advancing our collective well-being. Thus, the Local Government Act 2002 had to be amended.

> **10 Purpose of local government**  
> (1) The purpose of local government is—  
> (a) to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and  
> (b) to promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities in the present and for the future.  
> (2)\[Repealed\]  
>  
> **11 Role of local authority**  
> The role of a local authority is to—  
> (a) give effect, in relation to its district or region, to the purpose of local government stated in section 10; and  
> (b) perform the duties, and exercise the rights, conferred on it by or under this Act and any other enactment.  
>  
> **11A Core services to be considered in performing role**  
> \[Repealed\]  
>  
> [Local Government Act 2002 (post-well-being)](http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/0084/latest/DLM170873.html??ref=goodoil.news)

  
Our enlightened politicians have decided that councils no longer need *to meet the current and future needs of communities for *good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions* in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.* They now have *to promote the *social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being* of communities in the present and for the future.*

Most of us would prefer good quality infrastructure and efficient public services. And no longer do those services need to be *efficient, effective and appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances.* That requirement was repealed. Apparently, Council wastage of ratepayer money is now legal!

**The whole section defining what a local council was really all about has been repealed.**  Don’t think that you can write to the paper complaining about the rubbish or public transport or such like. These core services for your community are no longer a yardstick or key performance indicator.  
 (a) network infrastructure:  
 (b) public transport services:  
 (c) solid waste collection and disposal:  
 (d) the avoidance or mitigation of natural hazards:  
 (e) libraries, museums, reserves, and other recreational facilities and community amenities.

All that matters is your well-being.

Section 5 of the Act has all the definitions arranged alphabetically and the definition of well-being slots in there between ‘waterworks’ and ‘working day’.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/f4/31f4e20a-0315-499e-83ff-139e8eab53bf/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/wellbeing_definition.jpg)

Given that definition in the Act, it is a simple matter to check whether or not your council is promoting your social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/f4/31f4e20a-0315-499e-83ff-139e8eab53bf/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1556853198029.jpg)

Never Mind the Rubbish, Feel the Well-being