The Government is weakening environmental management and local democracy with its changes to Regional Councils.
"Not content with starving local government of resources, Luxon's Government now wants to undermine regional councils and let the environment burn," says the Green Party's spokesperson for Local Government, Celia Wade-Brown.
"Local government needs careful and considered reform, but Luxon's version of reform here creates more uncertainty, risks downgrading environmental protection and erodes the agency of local communities.
"This is really about reducing rates at any cost, and for this anti-environment Government the first port of call is to slash environmental management functions within local government.
"Working with local communities and acting on the recommendations of the Future of Local Government review would be a great place to start when considering local government reform.
"Unfortunately, the Government has not progressed these recommendations, and has consistently shown themselves to be an opponent of localism.
"Let's support local government with adequate resources, and acknowledge the important contribution our regional councils make to our communities," says Celia Wade-Brown.
