Browsing by Author "Player, Pippa"

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Open Access
Accountability, Power And Control In New Zealand's Local Government System
(Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2022) Player, Pippa
Criticisms of local government range from its not doing its job (a central government-centric perspective), to local democracy is being undermined by paternalistic and excessive intervention (a local government-centric perspective). Taking a closer look at the effects of accountability arrangements using Mark Bovens’ public accountability framework can help us think differently about the concentrations of power and the checks and balances that are used to control such powers. This paper tests Bovens’ framework for its value in legislative design by exploring public accountability through the roles of Minister, mayor, governing body and chief executive in the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA). It concludes that it is lazy governance if we are only relying on prescription in statute and legal accountability as the main control mechanism; and by doing so we are placing less importance on mapping progress towards community outcomes collaboratively through the activities of the two spheres of government in New Zealand (central and local).
Open Access
Covenants In Gross – Effective Protection For Open Space?
(Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2020) Player, Pippa
Open Access
The Water Services Act And Public Participation–Will The Devil Be In The Detail?
(Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2021) Player, Pippa
The government has instigated a far-reaching reform of freshwater management. The first initiative to be put into law was the establishment of a new water regulator, Taumata Arowai, as part of the response to the Government Inquiry into Havelock North Drinking-Water 2016-2017 (the Inquiry). There is also an ambitious reform agenda to replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), introduce stronger climate change regulation and reform local government. This paper focuses on one very small piece of the puzzle: drinking water. It takes a critical look at the reforms through the development of the Water Services Act 2021 (WSA) in the context of public participation in decision-making, access to information and access to justice. These form the “Three Pillars” of participatory and procedural rights in international environmental law recognised in the Aarhus Convention.