The Government is seeking better central government agency alignment and partnerships with local government to address local issues to achieve better outcomes for communities.

This is what State Services Minister Chris Hipkins told Bay of Plenty mayors in Rotorua recently.

The Minister met with mayors and council chief executives, Bay of Plenty Regional Council representatives and central government agency leaders from around the region at a Bay of Plenty Triennial Agreement meeting at Rotorua Lakes Council – the first meeting of the group for the new local government triennium.

The Triennial Agreement represents a shared commitment by local government in the wider Bay of Plenty (including Taupo) to collectively improve the region.

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick, who hosted and chaired the meeting, says a strengthened partnership approach across the region has produced 'some good results”. Partnerships with Central Government would achieve even more in addressing local challenges.

'We are not asking the Government to find the solutions, we want to partner with you and your agencies so we are empowered to work through the issues that are impacting on our communities,” the mayor told Minister Hipkins.

Chris says issues that cut across departments and agencies need a collaborative approach to achieve success.

The Government is working to better join up central government and local government around regional activity and issues.

'We are trying to bring more consistency to be a better partner with local government and local communities to deliver central government services,” he says.

Local Bay of Plenty mayors meet with Chris Hipkins standing to Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick's left. The Rotorua Lakes Council's CEO, Geoff Williams, is also pictured.

Decisions should be made as close as possible to the people affected by them and living up to that would require better connections [between agencies and local and central government] in order to be more effective and achieve better outcomes for communities.

People expect the same level of responsiveness from central and local government as they receive from the private sector.