An Annual General Meeting (AGM) of member authorities is held annually.
This year our AGM will be held in person, on 25 July in Christchurch, before our Conference starts. It will be held from 2.30pm-4.30pm (Conference pōwhiri starts at 4.45pm) in the Rivers Room at Te Pae.
Member authorities admitted to membership under Rule C1 of the LGNZ constitution are entitled to representation at the AGM.
Election of President and Vice President
The President and Vice President of LGNZ must be elected by ballot of member authorities in accordance with the rules (rule F1-F7 and F21-F26) at the AGM in the year following the year in which triennial local government elections are held.
Remits policy
Proposed remits, other than those relating to the internal governance and constitution of Local Government New Zealand, should address only major strategic “issues of the moment”. They should have a national focus articulating a major interest or concern at the national political level.
All proposed remits and accompanying information must meet the remit policy.
Proposed remits, other than those relating to the internal governance and constitution of Local Government New Zealand, should address only major strategic “issues of the moment”. They should have a national focus articulating a major interest or concern at the national political level.
The National Council’s Remits Screening Policy is as follows:
- Remits must be relevant to local government as a whole rather than exclusively relevant to a single zone or sector group or an individual council;
- Remits should be of a major policy nature (constitutional and substantive policy) rather than matters that can be dealt with by administrative action;
- Remits must have formal support from at least one zone or sector group meeting, or five councils, prior to their being submitted, in order for the proposer to assess support and achieve clarity about the ambit of the proposal;
- Remits defeated at the AGM in two successive years will not be permitted to go forward;
- Remits should not involve matters that can be actioned by equally valid means other than the AGM;
- Remits should not deal with issues or matters that are “in-hand” and currently being actioned by LGNZ (including through work programmes addressing the critical issues set out in LGNZ’s strategy, being three waters reform, resource management reform, the Future for Local Government Review, transport, climate change and housing), unless the issue is not currently being addressed; and
- Remits must be accompanied by background information and research to show that the matter warrants consideration by delegates. Such background should demonstrate the:
- nature of the issue;
- background to it being raised;
- issue’s relationship, if any, to the current Local Government New Zealand Business Plan and its objectives;
- level of work, if any, already undertaken on the issue by the proposer, and outcomes to date;
- resolution, outcome and comments of any zone or sector meetings which have discussed the issue; and
- suggested actions that could be taken by Local Government New Zealand should the remit be adopted.
Those meeting this policy will be screened by the Remit Screening Committee and following approval will move forward to the Annual General Meeting for consideration by the membership.
Remits
The remits being considered at this year’s AGM are available here.
Delegates
The representation of each member authority is determined by the authority population levels as per rule G13 of the constitution.
Each authority may nominate:
- Presiding Delegate - the person responsible for voting on behalf of the authority at the AGM;
- Alternate Delegate/s - person/s responsible for voting on behalf of the authority if the Presiding Delegate is absent from the AGM;
- Any other delegates - provided the total number attending the AGM does not exceed the representatives allowed under rule G13; and
- Any observers attending - no speaking or voting rights.
Please note that observers are not part of the official delegation and if attending the AGM will be seated away from the official delegation.
To avoid confusion at the AGM please ensure that all representatives nominated as delegates to the AGM are fully aware of the delegate role they were nominated for.
Voting
The voting entitlement of each authority is determined by the authority subscription levels as per rule H1 of the constitution and the manner of voting on any issue may be required by taking of a poll and should this occur the voting entitlements will apply.
No member authority, whose annual subscription is in arrears, is entitled to vote at the AGM.
Proxy voting
At any AGM, votes may be exercised by a member authority by proxy as per rule G18-G20 of the constitution. If your council is not present, and would like to exercise a vote, it will only be able to do so by complying with the proxy rules.
Proxies must be in writing and submitted to LGNZ on the proxy form. Please note that the proxy must be executed under the common seal of the member authority, or by a person having delegated authority from the member authority to sign it. There must be proof of the delegated authority.
The proxy form requires the appointment of one or two individuals, rather than a member authority, to vote on behalf of a council by proxy. Therefore, councils wishing to appoint a proxy must ensure that the individual/s appointed will be attending the AGM. If an appointed individual does not to attend the AGM, and has been authorised to vote by proxy on a councils behalf, other members of the individual's council in attendance at the AGM may not vote instead, and the vote will be declared invalid.
A proxy received within 48 hours of the AGM is not valid until the meeting has passed a motion to accept it.
Obituaries
To register an obituary please email Local Government New Zealand and provide the following details:
- Name of deceased;
- Role of deceased in council;
- Council registering obituary; and
- Contact details of the person registering the obituary.
Agenda and business papers
The following business is to be conducted at the AGM:
- Voting for the positions of President and Vice President (in the year following the year in which triennial local government elections are held);
- President's Report and Annual Report;
- Financial statements and annual statement of accounts;
- Reports from zones or sector groups;
- Remits submitted from zones, sector groups or member authorities;
- Date and venue of the next AGM confirmed;
- Any notice or notices of motion to alter, add to, rescind or otherwise amend the Rules of LGNZ; and
- Any other business that the National Council or the AGM resolves to be considered.
For further information about AGM, please contact LGNZ.