On Friday,Local Government Minister Melissa Horne is set to unveil new powers to tackle poor councillor behaviour that will allow the government to suspend or disqualify individual councillors found to have created a “risk to health and safety”.
The Chief Municipal Monitor will also gain the ability to issue infringement notices to individual councillors who breach local government laws.
Other changes will include a model code of conduct so that councils will not have to establish their own and a requirement for ongoing training for councillors.
The reforms come as a result of a 2022 “culture review” of local government launched by the former local government minister Shaun Leane.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission also recommended a streamlining and strengthening of councillor codes of conduct – which currently vary from council to council – in itsrecent final report into Operation Sandon.