Big shifts are coming. From central government reforms to bold moves led by councils themselves. This session breaks down what’s coming, what it means for your council and community, and how to navigate the risks and opportunities ahead.

You’ll hear directly from key decision-makers and thought leaders as they share valuable insights into the reforms impacting local government's future. Most importantly, your perspectives matter — influence LGNZ’s advocacy and ensure councils are heard.

Reforms don’t happen in isolation. It’s the cumulative impact that can really stretch council finances and operational capacity. Nick Davis and Sarah Baddeley from MartinJenkins will unpack how multiple changes are landing at once and what this means for your organisation. Walk away with a sharper understanding of the pressure points and how to plan for what’s ahead.

With referenda on Māori wards and constituencies set for the next local elections, councils need to be ready. This session looks at how to support Māori elected members and how to communicate clearly with your communities about retaining or establishing a Māori ward or constituency. Our panel of experts from Te Maruata will provide insights, advice and guidance to help councils navigate the referenda.

Local elections provides an essential mandate for local government. Yet, declining turnout and a declining postal system threaten local democracy in New Zealand. Join members of LGNZ's Electoral Reform Working Group for a deep dive into their recommendations to modernise the local electoral system. This is your chance to understand the thinking behind the position paper to help you inform your advocacy.

With upcoming reforms refocussing the purpose of local government, removing the wellbeings, defining core services, what does this mean for the current work of councils and the way they engage with their communities? This session is your chance to understand what these changes might mean for your council and for local government more broadly.

Councils are complex, ever-evolving systems, constantly adapting to meet community needs. But what keeps them running smoothly? And what does it take to supercharge local leadership? This session uncovers how councils can drive change, deliver efficiently, influence national agendas, and achieve what’s right for your community.

Local government is navigating its most complex environment in decades. Councils are under immense financial pressure, facing urgent infrastructure demands, rising community expectations, and increasing responsibilities from central government — from freshwater to housing. On top of it all, there's growing uncertainty about the future role of local government itself.

In this interactive session, GHD will work with you to unpack some of the big questions shaping your ability to lead, influence, and make a real difference. You'll leave the session with practical tools and strategies to help you prioritise, focus, and support your teams — so you can keep moving forward and deliver what matters most for your community.

Managing tight budgets whilst delivering quality services and value for ratepayers is no mean feat. Achieving maximum value with meaningful outcomes can feel out of reach. But is there a straightforward solution?

Join Warren and Mahoney for a dynamic, interactive session that breaks down going beyond the basics to explore what true project viability looks like for future generations. Together, we’ll explore a future-focused value system and co-create bold, actionable solutions to ensure your public project initiatives deliver a lasting impact on the communities you serve.

Iwi are building strong economic foundations for the wellbeing of future generations. But how can councils be part of that story? This session explores how genuine partnerships can lead to better infrastructure, stronger communities, and long-term outcomes that benefit everyone.

Infrastructure projects often struggle with aligning budgets and scope — how can councils commit to a budget when the scope isn't fully defined, and how can they define a realistic scope without a clear understanding of the financial constraints?

In this session, the team from Apollo Projects will share how to turn that challenge on its head by using a design and build approach. You’ll learn practical ways to shape a clear scope, set a realistic budget from the outset, and stay in control of project creep. We’ll also explore how to maintain strong governance through delivery without losing sight of what your community needs and expects. You’ll leave with fresh insights on how to manage risk, streamline procurement, and get the best value for every dollar spent.

Ready to lift your council’s performance and tackle the big challenges head-on? This session is packed with practical tools to help councils deliver better outcomes, faster.

Explore how elected members can shape smarter decisions, keep major projects on track, and make the most of new funding and financing options. You’ll also gain fresh insights into building stronger, more effective partnerships with iwi to support shared goals.

The relationship between elected members and the CE can make or break a council. Explore how to achieve exceptional CE performance and avoid the traps that derail it, navigating the line between robust governance oversight and overstepping into operational territory. Join this honest, practical panel discussion on how to achieve exceptional CE performance.

Find out how to avoid the traps that derail it, navigating the line between robust governance oversight and overstepping into operational territory. You’ll hear directly from the perspective of an expert, a CE, and a mayor who’ve done the hard yards and walk away with insights you can use straight away.

Big infrastructure projects are tough. But when they work, they’re game changers. So what are the success factors in planning, designing and constructing big projects that make sure they meet their objectives and delight communities? Graham Darlow, Chair of Frequency will share lessons from major builds like Waterview tunnel and the Christchurch rebuild — what works, what doesn’t, and how to make sure your next project hits the mark. He will step through the building blocks that drive success and explain how local government can make every project a winner.

Join officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Internal Affairs to explore the latest funding and financing tools to help build more houses faster. Get a deeper understanding of the move to a more flexible development levy system, changes to the IFFA and targeted rates system. Learn about the potential impact of these changes to your communities and ratepayers. This is your chance to talk directly to the policy makers about the practical implementation challenges and opportunities.

Strong council–iwi partnerships can unlock better results for everyone. In this session, our expert panel will share examples that highlight how these relationships have strengthened flood resilience and boosted community wellbeing. You’ll also explore what elected members can do to grow their understanding of Te Ao Māori and support these essential partnerships to enhance resilience, growth and prosperity.