25 Aug 2010

Councils planning better for long-term, says Auditor-General

5:54 am on 25 August 2010

The Auditor-General says local bodies are embracing long-term planning.

Territorial local authorities were required to improve their planning after the passing of the Local Government Act 2002.

In a report presented in Parliament, Auditor-General Lyn Provost says audits show councils are demonstrating an increased acceptance of the importance of long-term thinking in both the content of their plans and the approach to producing them.

Ms Provost says others working with the councils have also made these observations.

But she says local authorities can still improve in a number of areas, including complementing long-term thinking with preparing appropriate financial strategies.

Local Government New Zealand says it welcomes the Auditor-General's report, and councils will continue striving to improve their long term plans.