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Dunedin City Council – Kaunihera-a-rohe o Otepoti

Local Governance Statement

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Last updated: 01 Jul 2026 6:19am

The Local Governance Statement is a collection of information about the processes through which the Council engages with the residents of Dunedin City, how the Council makes decisions and how the citizens can influence these processes.

Introduction

The Local Governance Statement supports the purpose of local government by promoting local democracy.  The statement provides the public with information on the ways to influence local democratic processes.

The Local Governance Statement is a requirement of the Local Government Act 2002 and includes the following broad categories of information:

  • Functions, responsibilities, and activities of the Council
  • Electoral arrangements
  • Governance structures and processes
  • The way elected members make decisions and relate to each other
  • The management structure and key policies of the Council.

The purpose of Local Government (Section 10 Local Government Act 2002) is

  1. to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and
  2. to promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of communities in the present and for the future.

Our Local Governance Statement

  • Functions and responsibilities

    The 9 Year Plan 2025/2034 sets out the activities and services we intend to provide to meet the city’s needs.

    9 Year Plan 2025/2034

  • Legislation and bylaws

    Our rights, obligations and responsibilities are described in statutes, regulations and bylaws.  To fullfil its purposes, the Dunedin City Council (DCC) exercises powers and fulfils responsibilities through the following:

    • Local Government legislation, which applies to all local government.  Key among these are:
      • Local Government Acts 1974 and 2002
      • Local Government (Rating) Act 2002
      • Resource Management Act 1991
      • Building Act 1991
      • Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
      • Local Electoral Act 2001; and
      • Local legislation (which applies only to Dunedin City Council)

    Links to key Dunedin City Council documents including Bylaws, Strategies, Plans, Policies, Reports and Submissions.

  • Representation arrangements, electoral system and processes

    The Council uses the Single Transferable Vote electoral system (STV).  Voters rank candidates in order of preference.

    The following link provides information on the local elections.

  • Members’ roles and conduct

    • A summary of Elected members interests is attached to every agenda.  Agendas can be viewed via the following link:

    https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/council-meetings/agendas-and-minutes

    • Role of the Mayor and Elected Members
    • Code of Conduct

    Elected members are bound by the Code of Conduct as set out in Standing Orders. Code of Conduct ( 3.2 MB, PDF |opens in new window)

    Remuneration and Allowances:

  • Governance structure, membership and delegations

    2025 - 2028 Elected Members

    Mayor and Councillors – The Dunedin City Council is comprised of the Mayor and 14 Councillors.  Information regarding the Councillors, the role of the Council can be found on the following link:

    https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/mayor-and-councillors

    Community Boards

    Dunedin has 6 Community Boards details of Community Boards and members can be found on the following link:

    https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/community-boards

    Committee Structure

    Committee Structure and Delegations Manual

  • Meeting processes

    Information regarding Council, Committee and Community Board meetings, including agendas, minutes and meeting schedule may be found via the following link:

    The Council has adopted a set of Standing Orders for the conduct of its meetings including committees and community boards.

    Council and Committee meetings are also record and streamed live and recordings maybe found on the following link

  • Consultation policies

    The Local Government Act 2002 provides principles and requirements for consultation as part of the planning, decision-making and accountability role of Council.  Issues that are currently being consulted on can be found via the following link:

    The Council also uses the People’s Panel to enable people to have their say on Dunedin’s future.

  • Our commitment and relationship with Mana Whenua

    Our commitment

    Dunedin City Council is committed to a respectful, enduring and meaningful relationship with mana whenua, grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and guided by Te Taki Haruru, the Council’s Māori Strategic Framework.

    We acknowledge Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki and Te Runanga o Ōtākou (Kā Rūnaka) as mana whenua within the Ōtepoti Dunedin area and recognise the importance of Mataawaka - Māori who live in Dunedin but are not affiliated to Kāi Tahu. We are committed to working in partnership to improve outcomes for Māori and for the wellbeing of the city as a whole.

    Working together: Te Pae Māori

    Te Pae Māori is the Council’s primary partnership forum with Kā Rūnaka at the governance level. It provides a space for open, respectful, mana-to-mana dialogue, where we work together on matters of shared interest and long-term importance to Dunedin.

    Through Te Pae Māori, the Council and Kā Rūnaka:

    • recognise and respect each other’s roles, responsibilities, and authority
    • work in good faith and in the spirit of partnership
    • support self-determination and shared decision-making where appropriate
    • collaborate to advance shared goals and opportunities for Ōtepoti Dunedin.
    Shared aspirations and outcomes

    Our relationship with mana whenua is focused on achieving meaningful outcomes for current and future generations. We work together to:

    • strengthen cultural, social, environmental and economic wellbeing
    • ensure Māori perspectives help shape Council priorities and decisions
    • collaborate with other organisations and partners where this supports shared goals
    • create benefits for Māori and for all people who live in, work in, and visit Dunedin.
    Te Taki Haruru – embedding Māori perspectives

    Te Taki Haruru sets out how the Council gives effect to Māori values, priorities and ways of working across our activities.

    Te Pae Māori provides strategic guidance and oversight to:

    • support the implementation of Te Taki Haruru across Council work programmes
    • monitor progress and effectiveness
    • ensure the framework continues to reflect shared priorities and aspirations.
    Communication and oversight

    Te Pae Māori:

    • provides a direct line of communication between the Council, Kā Rūnaka and Mataawaka
    • offers a forum to discuss strategic issues and emerging priorities
    • monitors progress under both Te Taki Haruru and the Manatu Whakaaetaka – Relationship Agreement 2022.
    What the Council commits to

    To support this partnership, Dunedin City Council commits to:

    • providing staff support and expertise
    • enabling mana whenua representation on selected Council committees where this supports shared objectives
    • designing engagement processes that are meaningful, inclusive and responsive to Māori
    • participating fully and respectfully in wānaka and other partnership activities
    • working with Kā Rūnaka to agree annual priorities and work programmes
    • regularly reviewing the operation of Te Pae Māori to ensure it remains effective, relevant  and fit for purpose.
    A living partnership

    This relationship is active and ongoing. Through Te Pae Māori, the Council, Kā Rūnaka and Mataawaka commit to working together with openness, respect and shared accountability to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and support the long-term wellbeing of Ōtepoti Dunedin.

  • Management structure

    The Local Government Act 2002 requires the Council to employ a Chief Executive who responsibilities are to employ other staff on behalf of the council, to implement Council decisions and provide advice to the Council.

    Under the Local Government Act 2002, the Chief Executive is the only person who may lawfully give instructions to a staff member.  Information relating to the structure of Council can be found via the following links:

  • Equal Employment Opportunities Policy

    Dunedin City Council is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunities and seeks to ensure that there are no barriers present which discriminate against people on the grounds of sex, age, marital status, religious or ethical beliefs, colour, race or national origins, disability, political opinion, employment status, family status and sexual orientation. All employment-related decisions are made on the basis of merit.

  • Policy and planning documents

    At Dunedin City Council, we have a number of planning documents that provide details on our functions, goals and how we plan to achieve them:

    2GP - https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/district-plan/2nd-generation-district-plan/read-the-plan

  • Official information requests

    Requests for information can be made by all members of the public under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) and the Privacy Act 1993. Information may be found via the following link:

    https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/official-information-lgoima

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