Local government delegates in town

Local Government New Zealand annual conference delegates in Queenstown include (from left) Westland Mayor Maureen Pugh, Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks, Auckland deputy mayor Penny Hulse, Opotiki Mayor John Forbes, Dunedin Mayor David Cull and LGNZ president Lawrence Yule, of Hastings, outside the conference venue, the Millennium Hotel, yesterday. Photo by James Beech.

A total of 570 delegates were welcomed by the organisation's president, Lawrence Yule, yesterday to the three-day conference.

Queenstown businessman Sir Eion Edgar will talk about the campaign to launch Winter Games NZ in a breakfast session today, followed by the official opening involving the Minister of Local Government, David Carter, Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden and Mr Yule.

Guest speakers include 2011 Rugby World Cup winning coach Sir Graham Henry, political commentator Fran O'Sullivan, Tourism Industry Association chief executive Martin Sneddon and Andrew Hamilton, chief executive of business growth centre the Icehouse.

Opposition spokeswoman for housing and local government Annette King and Green Party co-leader Russel Norman are also scheduled to give presentations.

The conference will offer workshops led by LGNZ's team of policy specialists and look at some of the issues facing the local government sector across social, environmental, governance and transport and infrastructural areas.

The conference continues until tomorrow, but delegates will have the opportunity to attend the National Economic Development Forum, which starts tomorrow afternoon and has a full day on Wednesday.