Dear Department of Internal Affairs,

In the Cabinet paper, Local Government System Improvements: Policy Decisions, dated 13 November 2024 the future of the four wellbeings required to be followed by local government was discussed.

At paragraph 25 of this document it is suggested that the four wellbeings may have lead to greater annual increases in local government rates than otherwise would be the case.

At paragraph 27 the following statement is made "The reinstatement of the four well-beings in 2019 has come at a significant cost to ratepayers."

Please provide copies of all research, assessments, reports, and advice to the Minister of Local Government on the potential link between the four wellbeings being in the purpose for local government and rate increases. This includes reviewing other factors that may have contributed to any rate increase.

At paragraph 48 of the document reference is made to two regulatory impact statements - one on refocusing the purpose of local government and the other on discrete interventions. Please provide copies of both these regulatory impact statements.

Ngā mihi
Andrew Riddell