This year's Local Government New Zealand conference will evaluate the role that mayors and their councils can play in leading communities through a rapidly changing external environment, say organisers.
The theme is Local Government: Our Place In The World.
More than 500 delegates are expected to attend the conference, which runs from Sunday through to next Tuesday in Christchurch.
International and local speakers include Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft, retired High Court judge Peter Salmon, and Clemenger BBDO managing director Peter Biggs.
They will cover areas such as youth offending, the new Auckland super city council and engaging New Zealanders in local government processes.
Public law specialist Mai Chen will look at nationwide local government reform and the Auckland reform bills.