The Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) 2024 Annual Conference, where mayors and councillors gathered, was held in Wellington, New Zealand (NZ), from 21 to 23 August.
At the opening, the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of NZ, called for concentrating budgets on the core functions of local governments and improving fiscal efficiency. However, local authorities argued that budget measures focused solely on efficiency are insufficient for maintaining population levels and attracting skilled individuals.This year’s conference, themed “localism,” highlighted the challenges faced by local governments, including the need for infrastructure investment, particularly in aging water and sewer systems, and the financial shortfalls caused by rising costs. The importance of strong collaboration with the central government was emphasiesd throughout the sessions.
At the CLAIR Sydney office booth, we introduced Japanese local governments that have sister city relationships with NZ and promoted the upcoming Local Government Exchange and Cooperation Seminar scheduled for early December. Moreover, we gathered insights on local government trends in NZ and strengthened networks through exchanges of opinions with local government officials.
We will continue to strive to deepen mutual understanding of local government trends in NZ and Japan through ongoing networking with local government officials.
From the 3rd to the 13th of December, eight selected swimmers from the Fukuoka Swimming Association visited NSW, where they participated in joint training sessions with a local school and competed in the 2024-25 Speedo NSW Senior State Age Championships.
