Queenstown Mayor Vanessa van Uden has been named one of eight people in Local Government Minister David Carter's "Local Government Efficiency Taskforce", which aims to to build greater efficiency within the local government framework.
Ms van Uden said she had expressed interest in joining the task force and was excited about her inclusion, particularly the opportunity to help streamline local government.
"I think I actually have some ideas and some views and some thoughts about how we can actually improve things. It's all very well to have them, but you actually need to be able to put them up and have them tested ... let's face it, local government needs to do better.
"It's a really unique opportunity to be part of [it] and represent a currently elected representative dealing with the issues in our communities as we face them today."
The task force was one of the initiatives outlined in the Better Local Government reform programme, announced earlier this year, and would focus on improvements to local government consultation, planning and financial reporting requirements and practices.
It would feed into a broader reform programme which aimed to provide clarity around the role of councils, stronger governance and improved efficiency and financial management.
An example of what the task force could look at was the process councils had to go through with the long-term plan and audit process, Ms van Uden said.
"Have they created a beast?
"Under the auspices of community consultation and keeping it informed and transparent ... does it have any relevance to the community?
"I don't know that the cost benefits equal each other."
Ms van Uden said from her perspective the over-arching goal was to make things simpler and understand what councils needed to do and what communities wanted them to do.
The task force would meet 10 times in Wellington over the next three months, with the final report to be prepared for the minister by October.
The Government would cover costs associated with those trips, she said.
The government task force will be chaired by Auckland environmental and public law specialist Michael Holm.
Other members are former Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast, Auckland Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Michael Barnett, Environment Canterbury chief executive Bill Bayfield, Gore District Council chief executive Stephen Parry, former Whangarei mayor Pamela Peters and former South Taranaki District Council deputy mayor Debbie Packer.
Mr Carter said the wealth of experience of the members would be an "asset in building a more efficient local government sector and helping to improve the legislative framework for New Zealand's 78 councils".
