Why not consider a career in Local Government?
About People Shaping Progress
There are 78 councils throughout New Zealand that support and facilitate sustainable growth and development of New Zealand communities. You could be one of the many people who work in these councils and contribute to the progress of your community.
So what makes local government as a sector quite unique?
- Councils provide a good training ground for those who are just starting their careers
- Work and projects are varied and diverse
- A collaborative environment exists within local government.
- Providing you opportunities to contribute and make a difference.
Be one of the people shaping the progress of New Zealand communities. Join your local council today.
What you could be involved with
Promoting Community Well-being
Councils are closely involved in promoting community well-being through arts, community and recreation services. Your council maintains public libraries, parks, public swimming pools, sports grounds and museums. Your council also looks after youth development, community relationships, business development, and holds events that encourage community participation.
Making sure everything works
Water comes in, and it goes out. The roads are maintained, bus services organised, and the rubbish removed. All those things you don’t notice until they don’t happen! Planning, developing and maintaining local infrastructure is a major aspect of council work.
Planning for the future
Councils are responsible for facilitating ongoing growth of your district or city especially in areas such as transport, resource management, bylaw making, urban design, community and social, financial planning, and economic development. Councils liaise with key community groups, conduct effective consultations and monitors and implement these policies and plans effectively.
Looking after the environment
Weeds, chemical spills, rescuing the tui, cleaning up the air or plotting where everything actually is. Everything has an environmental impact and your council is often the referee. Regional councils, in particular, must manage the demands of industry (for instance farming), and of those who want to keep our environment untouched.
Serving the community
Your council ensures that consistent standards are in place to keep people safe and secure. They keep you safe from dodgy food, ensure that you don’t get constant gridlock in the cities, or that ships berth at wharves and not on reefs. Councils apply a vast number of rules and regulations that central government has decreed, and many arise from the expressed wishes of their community.
Managing the resources
Able and strong management ensures that strategies and structures are in place for your council to achieve the vision for your community. They have people who look after operational performance, implement solutions to make the organisation achieve its outcomes and provide structures and systems in place to better serve the community.
Roles in Local Government
Click here to Meet the People who Shape Progress
Click here to find out more about the available academic prizes
Click here to see where your area of study can take you
Have questions about local government career opportunities, ask us on the forums