Closer Aust.-N.Z. local govt ties?

Press, 10 April 1980, Page 6

Closer Aust.-N.Z. local govt ties?

New Zealand and Australia are set for closer co-! operation on local govern-: ment matters. This emerged at talks in Christchurch yesterday between the New Zealand! Minister of Local Govern-; ment (Mr Highet) and eight Australian Ministers. , An exchange of ideas at! their joint annual con-! ference ranged over local, government restructuring and financing and issues of; health and welfare. After the sermon, Mr; Highet said there had been! new interest by the Austra-I lians in New Zealand’s ex-1 perience in local govern-1 ment. I At four previous con-j ferences, Mr Highet had felt; “a bit out in the cold,” but! yesterday 90 per cent of thej discussions were of interest; to the two countries, he said.! Mr Highet said the Australian Ministers continually | sought comment from him.

He predicted that New Zealand and Australia could be a : “great help” to each other Hn the future in the field of 'local government. He suggested that because of a “tremendous similarity” (between the two systems of i local government, there ' would be closer liaison on [Specific issues and exchanges ■of reports. ! “We must profit from each i other’s experiences.” Differential rating was one area in which Australian was (already drawing on New Zealand “pioneering,” ■ said Mr | Highet. I The Australians were also; I interested in New Zealand! I local-body amalgamation and I shared a strong feeling that iit should not be forced by! I central government. i Mr Highet said there was also agreement generally iagainst local bodies becom- ! ing involved in commercial I activities where they could | be covered adequately by private enterprise.

Mr Highet’s optimism on the benefits of closer cooperation was echoed by the New South Wales Minister of Local Government (Mr H. F. Jensen), who said New Zealand and Australia “shared a common destiny.” Mr Jensen was one of seven Australian state Ministers at' the talks. An Australian Commonwealth representative was Senator Kevin Newham, Minister assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs. Mr Jensen was sure every delegate at the conference would benefit from the talks. In New South Wales, three-quarters of the 200 councils had introduced differential rating in recent years as a consequence of experience with it in New Zealand, he said.

Mr Jensen, said a critical evaluation in Australia on the efficiency of local government could be of equal benefit to New Zealand.