Government officials from Asia meet important local politician

Studies at the Eastern Institute of Technology for a group of government officials from Asia are not restricted to the classroom.

 

Last week they visited the Hastings District Council and met an important local politician, Mr Lawrence Yule. Not only is Mr Yule the Mayor of Hastings, he is also the President of Local Government New Zealand, made up of elected representatives from city councils and district councils throughout New Zealand. 

 

The visiting officials, from Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, are at EIT for seven weeks on a programme called ELTO: English Language Training for Officials, funded by NZAID.  The theme of their study programme is governance, so this visit was an opportunity to learn about the intricacies of the New Zealand system of local government.

 

Mr Yule contrasted the roles of central and local governments, firstly outlining the differing income streams and then the responsibilities of both. The Hastings District Council is one of four Hawke’s Bay territorial authorities, responsible for environmental protection, roads, water, sewage, storm water catchment, parks, libraries, housing for the elderly, libraries, sports fields and dog control, among other things.

 

Mr. Yule explained the election system of local council members and stressed the exclusion of party politics from local government in Hawke’s Bay. He also pointed out the total transparency of the meetings, where media are usually present to report goings on. The district council is bound by the Local Government Act which ensures that infrastructure is maintained, and assets are managed properly on a long term basis

 

Because most of the students are officials in their countries’ central governments, they were particularly interested in the relationship between central and local governments.