When Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) recently held its national conference in Dunedin, fears were expressed that the proposed Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No2) could result in forced amalgamations by stealth.
Mr Woodhead, who chairs LGNZ’s regional sector group, had earlier warned in an article published in the Otago Daily Times that Otago local and regional authorities should not become "puppets of Wellington" through the proposed new law.
When Local Government Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga addressed the LGNZ conference, he said he would resign if there were "forced changes without consultation".
After an ORC meeting this week, Mr Woodhead said he still had "serious concerns" about extensive new powers provided for the minister and the Local Government Commission in the Bill.
LGNZ has also warned the proposed new law would allow the Local Government Commission to determine where council-controlled companies were set up and operated.
Mr Woodhead said local government changes should be "driven from the local community, not imposed from above" by the Crown or by Crown-appointed commissioners.
He said the ORC agreed with the Government’s desire to achieve more efficient local government through local authorities collaborating for providing services.
ORC collaboration included membership of the Queenstown Transport Governance Group.
Mr Woodhead attended a recent meeting of this group, which includes the Queenstown Lakes District Council, and was dealing with a host of transport-related matters.
