See also...Resources for working together
To help public servants engage successfully with community, voluntary, iwi and Māori organisations, this website includes consultation techniques and tips for involving different sectors of the community.
Policy development guidelines for regulatory functions involving local government
These guidelines have been prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs to prompt and assist central government agencies to identify and consider key issues that may arise where local authorities are, or are proposed to be, involved in the implementation of regulatory functions.
Building Better Government Engagement Project - Final Report and Recommendations
From Talk to Action: Government Engagement with Citizens and Communities is the final report and recommendations to government from the Building Better Government Engagement Reference Group. This looks at options for building engagement skills, knowledge and values in the public service
Systems thinking for solving complex problems - Workshop presentation and information
This workshop introduced ‘systems thinking’ as a tool for helping central and local government work better together and address complex problems.
Presentation and further information from the workshop
This workshop has been developed by the New Zealand Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM) and The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) specifically for central government policy analysts and advisors.
Presentations include
- The 10 Minute History of Local Government, Don Mackay, Manager Good Practice and Policy, NZ Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM)
- The Local Government Act 2002, Rosalind Plimmer, Manager Strategic Analysis and Information, Department of Internal Affairs
- Sustainable Development and Local Government (pdf 5.8mb), Mike Theleen, General Manager Strategy and Planning, Christchurch City Council
- Community Outcomes, Gael Ferguson, Group Manager Strategy & Partnerships, Kapiti Coast District Council
- The LTCCP - Process and Content, Jeremy Boase, Strategic/Corporate Planner, Tauranga City Council and Tony Uttley, Office of the Auditor-General
- The LTCCP and Financial Management, Keith Miller, Senior Policy Advisor, Department of Internal Affairs
- LTCCP and Local Government Funding, Mike Reid, Manager Governance, Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ)
- Policy Development Guidelines for Regulatory Functions Involving Local Government, Warren George, Senior Policy Advisor, Department of Internal Affairs
A guide for local government: An introduction to youth participation (pdf 1.14mb)
Ministry of Youth Development resource. The Guide for Local Government: An Introduction to Youth Participation builds on youth participation good practice being undertaken by councils and young people. It offers simple advice, tips and examples on why youth participation is important, how to do it, and what works.
The Guide also complements Local Government New Zealand’s cross agency and local government initiative called Growing Active Citizens. This initiative is about increasing active youth participation in decision-making, locally, regionally and nationally.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
Planning Together - a practical guide for local strategic partnerships and planners (pdf 723kb)
April 2009, Department for Communities and Local Government, United Kingdom
This practical guide is focused on the strategic leadership role of local authorities in the UK working through Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and the planning system to shape good places and deliver quality services. The guide highlights local authorities working to bring planning and strategic departments together to work in a more co-ordinated and integrated way.
Factors for Successful Coordination - a Framework to Help State Agencies Coordinate Effectively
February 2008
The State Services Commission (SSC) presents the Factors for Successful Coordination Framework, to help agencies plan coordinated activity. The framework groups nine success factors according to the three dimensions of mandate, systems and behaviours. Ensuring these factors are in place will help agencies coordinate more effectively and achieve success together.
Ministry of Social Development Good Practice Guide for Working with Local Government
April 2005
Options and processes for collaborating on community priorities. Initially developed for MSD staff, it is now widely used by a number of agencies.
The Guide provides
- information about local government and the community outcomes process
- illustrations from different regions about how MSD has contributed to date
- practical suggestions on how to contribute
- principles and tips for collaborative work
- useful websites, resources and contacts.
Putting Partnering into Practice: Collaboration on Complex Issues – Healthy Homes
A resource about collaboration among multiple agencies working on complex issues.
"Putting Partnering into Practice" presents themes, comments and experiences of collaboration from a cross-section of people working in Healthy Homes initiatives across the country. Healthy Homes is an emerging issue and a key area demonstrating collaboration between central and local government, iwi, business and communities.
Putting Pen to Paper Series
Putting Pen to Paper: Profiles
Chapters:
Introduction Section (pdf 115kb)
Aranui Community Trust (pdf 423kb)
BOP Community Outcomes (pdf 613kb)
Community Waitakere (pdf 787kb)
Coromandel Independant Living Trust (pdf 200kb)
North West Wildlink Accord (pdf 204kb)
Northland Monitoring Forum (pdf 205kb)
Rotorua Youth Strategy (pdf 210kb)
SKIP Banardos (pdf 349kb)
Southland Rural Fire Authority (pdf 667kb)
South Wairarapa Safer Community (pdf 277kb)
Te Uti a Hou Kaipara (pdf 161kb)
Appendices (pdf 63kb)
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
July 2007 The second publication in the Putting Pen to Paper series, Putting Pen to Paper: Profiles is a collection of actual partnering agreements, and an in-depth look at the process of reaching them. The 11 case studies detail
- the background and benefits of the partnering agreements
- how the agreements were developed and what helped or hindered the process
- what has happened since the agreements were signed
- advice for others embarking on collaboration.
Putting Pen to Paper: Profiles gives examples of partnering agreements from all over New Zealand and from a range of organisations. Key themes are identified, to serve as a reminder of what really matters for partnering agreements to succeed.
Printed copies of Putting Pen to Paper: Profiles are available free of charge. Please email communityoutcomes@dia.govt.nz
Putting Pen to Paper (pdf 1.56mb)
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
2006
The first publication in the Putting Pen to Paper series produced by The Department of Internal Affairs, in co-operation with Waitakere City Council. It focuses specifically on the development of partnership agreements.
Putting Pen to Paper guides those entering into new multiparty relationships and highlights some of the challenges and opportunities in developing and implementing partnering agreements in New Zealand. While the focus is on interagency working between central and local government, many of the principles will apply more widely.
Printed copies of Putting Pen to Paper are available free of charge. Please email communityoutcomes@dia.govt.nz
This website provides a toolkit for developing and improving partnerships.
Resources include
- A quick partnership health check
- In depth partnership assessment
- tools to assess your development and learning needs for improving effective partnerships
- A range of tools for developing leadership, trust, learning and managing performance
Partnership Assesment Tool (pdf 201kb)
May 2003, Office of Deputy Prime Minister, United Kingdom
The purpose of this tool is to provide a simple, quick and cost-effective way of assessing the effectiveness of partnership working. It enables a rapid appraisal (a quick ‘health check’) which graphically identifies problem areas. Using the Tool avoids exhaustive, lengthy and costly investigations of partnership working in general. And for those just setting up partnerships the Tool provides a checklist of what to ensure and what to avoid.
Partnerships and partnership working
A series of articles and resources developed by the United Kingdom Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) that focus on core issues relating to local partnership working.
Articles and resources from the United Kingdom Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) exploring partnerships between Local Authorities and their communities.
Strengthening communities (pdf 161kb)
October 2007
An information sheet and a case study published by Local Government New Zealand looks at how a commitment to collaboration can strengthen communities - highlights the ‘Massey Matters’ project in Waitakere.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
OECD Guide to successful partnerships (pdf 648kb)
January 2006
Members of the OECD Forum for Partnerships and Local Governance have produced this manual on forming and maintaining strong partnerships.
The aim of this guide is to serve as a practical manual for both the practitioners and policy makers involved in partnerships. It provides practical advice based on experience, for people involved in creating and maintaining partnerships, rather than theoretical frameworks.
One of the examples used is from NZ - the Marlborough Regional Development Trust.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
Information about the Local Government New Zealand project to help build stronger relationships between councils and Iwi, Hapū and Māori groups, to support community wellbeing.
Linking Local and Central Government to Promote Cultural Well-being
Information from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage about how the ministry can work with local authorities to promote cultural well-being. Includes information about funds and schemes the ministry administers.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
Coastal hazards and climate change:
A guidance manual for local government in New Zealand
SARA Model - Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment
The SARA model is a problem-solving tool that can be used to help tackle complex community problems. The model identifies the steps taken to confirm and analyse the problem, make the appropriate response, and assess the response and impact on the problem. The model emphasises identifying partnerships with other community groups.
Heartland Services is an across government initiative to improve access to government services for people in provincial and rural New Zealand.
Central Government Engagement in Community Outcomes Processes
A paper from The Department of Internal Affairs. This paper addresses how community outcomes processes can promote effective central government engagement with local government. The paper also describes how central government agencies could use information from community outcomes processes, and the outcomes themselves, to improve policy development, programmes and the delivery of services to achieve mutually desired outcomes.
Public Health in New Zealand: Local Government's Contribution to Wellbeing (pdf 885 kb)
Copyright Ministry of Health
Local authorities frequently both undertake activities influencing public health and wellbeing and facilitate or support similar activities done by others. This document highlights good practice that is occurring in the sector. By encouraging more effective working relationships between health and local government agencies, it should develop more efficient action at a local and regional level to support people adopting healthier lifestyles.
Strengthening Communities - A briefing for the new government (pdf 453kb)
Local Government New Zealand, December 2008
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) briefing to the incoming government about the local government sector. This briefing details the key priority arreas for LGNZ requiring policy and legislative attention.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
Better Connected Services for Kiwis
The Better Connected Services for Kiwis project looks at how and why interagency work actually happens on the ground. The aim of the project is to accelerate shared learning about collaborative working. The research highlights the way ordinary kiwis in the public sector work collaboratively to achieve some extraordinary results in seemingly commonsense, everyday ways.
- Better Connected Services for Kiwis - Discussion Document (pdf 3.91mb)
- Managing for Joint Outcomes: Connecting Up the Horizontal and the Vertical (pdf 332kb)
Bill Ryan, Derek Gill, Elizabeth Eppel and Miriam Lips. Policy Quarterly Volume 4, Issue 3, September 2008
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
Building Better Government Engagement Project
The Building Better Government Engagement Project is working to improve government engagement with community and voluntary organisations and citizens in policy and service development processes.
The Project aims to improve government understanding of
- good practice in building relationships
- methods of dialogue and deliberation
- the value of collaborative approaches to decision-making.
Discussion paper - It's more than talk (pdf 401kb)
Strengthening Communities through Local Partnerships Research Project
A major research project focused on “community partnerships” with international, national, Christchurch and Waitakere components. An in-depth look at local social sector partnerships, covering areas such as
- what works and why
- what doesn’t work and why
- what would make things work better.
May 2008
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) advocates on behalf of New Zealand's local authorities about local government policy. This manifesto discusses how LGNZ wants to work with central government, and the specific policy issues that it would like to see addressed. The manifesto identifies early robust consultation, adequate funding, and collaboration on the implementation of legislation as the key requirements for successful local and central government partnership.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
Effective Relationships & Collaborative Arrangements between Central and Local Government (pdf 181kb)
April 2008
A report prepared by Brookfields Consultants Limited for the Waitakere City Council, to support the Council’s submission to the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
Supporting Local Government - Existing Initiatives for Sustainable Development (pdf 550kb)
March 2008
Explores the partnership between central and local government regarding sustainable development. This paper reviews key central government information support mechanisms which may directly or indirectly help local government and communities identify and realise sustainable development goals.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
Balancing Means and Ends (pdf 445kb)
June 2005
A report by the Local Partnership and Governance Research Group, describing key messages for central government from the “Strengthening Communities through Local Partnerships” research project.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
New Zealand Council of Social Services Report into Local Body Relationships
August 2005
The New Zealand Council of Social Services (NZCOSS) report into the nature of relationships between its member Councils of Social Service and their local authorities. This report investigates how well local Councils of Social Services have been able to engage in community outcomes processes, looking at what has worked well, as well as some of the difficulties that have emerged. The research shows some interesting ways that local authorities and COSS have interacted to achieve community outcomes.
The Potential of Partnership (pdf 2mb)
August 2004
This document brings together key lessons of the research in Waitakere from the “Strengthening Communities through Local Partnerships” research project.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
Achieving Better Social Outcomes in New Zealand Through Collaboration: Perspectives from the United States (pdf 667kb)
Lynne Dovey
September 2003
This paper examines the topic of improving social outcomes in New Zealand through collaboration between government and communities where children, young people and families are at risk.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
Stratford TET Home Safety Project
Stratford District Council received a Highly Commended certificate in the 2009 SOLGM/New Zealand Post Excellence Awards in the category ‘Joined-Up Local Government’ for its involvement in the Stratford TET Home Safety Project.
This project installed 12,000 smoke alarms in over 2,600 central Taranaki homes, raised home safety awareness across Stratford District and created employment for seven people.
The One Plan is a single strategic framework and plan of action for the Auckland region.
This website explains the objectives, strategies and programmes of the One Plan. Includes links to the current version of the One Plan and other supporting documentation.
Connecting Diverse Communities - Report on 2007/08 public engagement (pdf 2mb)
A report from the Ministry of Social Development and the Office of Ethnic Affairs, summarising the findings of 15 meetings held around New Zealand to discuss diversity and social cohesion and responses to a written questionnaire.
The key objectives of these meetings were
- to engage with representatives of diverse communities around New Zealand
- to seek participants’ views on what more could be done to strengthen relations between diverse communities in New Zealand, and to prevent increasing ethnic and religious diversity in New Zealand becoming a catalyst for the kinds of negative events that have taken place recently in other countries.
This report brings together participants’ views on what social cohesion is, what can be done to enhance it, and the degree to which diverse communities currently connect with each other. Participants shared their views on what is happening in their regions, what does and doesn’t work in their view, and what more could be done.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
Healthy Eating Healthy Action Online Network
Healthy Eating – Healthy Action (HEHA) is the Ministry of Health’s strategic approach to improving nutrition, increasing physical activity and achieving healthy weight for all New Zealanders.
The HEHA Online Network has been set up to create better links across sectors to help achieve HEHA outcomes.
The network includes information about the links with Local Government, including case studies and evaluation tools.
The Auckland Sustainable Cities Programme was a three-year partnership from 2003-2006 involving the Auckland’s seven local councils, the Auckland regional council and a number of government agencies. The programme worked on critical sustainable development issues facing the Auckland Region. A booklet, Success in Sustainability (pdf 1.06mb), documents the key achievements of the programme.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
The Inspiring Communities Network is a nationwide group of communities committed to a new way of doing things to resolve complex issues. It is supported by the Community-Led Development Trust. This website describes how the network works, the vision and principles of the Community-Led Development Trust, along with further information and case stories.
Inspiring Communities Newsletters - 2008 editions
Inspiring Communities newsletters - 2009 editions
The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) is a nationwide network of Mayors working on the issues of work and livelihood in their communities. Begun in 2000 with 7 Mayors the Taskforce now has a membership of 71 Mayors (97% of all Mayors). It focuses on youth employment and engagement in local communities.
Resolving Conflict in Collaborative Networks (pdf 144kb)
Article adapted from Rosemary O’Leary and Lisa Blomgren Bingham, “A Manager’s Guide to Resolving Conflicts in Collaborative Networks” (Washington, D.C.: IBM Center for The Business of Government, 2007).
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
Hamilton, Canada, Roundtable for Poverty Reduction (pdf 377kb)
The Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction (HRPR) is a community-wide effort that aims to tackle the problem of poverty in Hamilton, Ontario, and to promote prosperity for all Hamiltonians. Broad representation from the community brings all sectors of the community together to tackle poverty, finding solutions to a problem that affects the whole community. Collaborative planning is the key to success, along with collaborative leadership. No single organisation or sector could find lasting solutions to poverty. This document aims at those organisations contemplating a comprehensive community change initiative.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
United Kingdom Sustainable Communities Act 2007 - A Guide(pdf 153kb)
Provides a guide to the United Kingdom's Sustainable Commuities Act 2007. The Sustainable Communities Act aims to promote the sustainability of local communities. The Act begins from the principle that local people know best what needs to be done to promote the sustainability of their area, but that ometimes they need central government to act to enable them to do so. It provides a channel for local people to ask central government to take such action. It s also a new way for local authorities to ask central government to take action which they believe would better enable them to improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of their area.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
Inter-Agency Collaboration Among Social Services Agencies in Los Angeles County (pdf 1.6mb)
2008
Report produced by Jessica Pearson and Nancy Thoennes for the IBM Centre for the Business of Government. This report includes discussion on some of the obstacles to succesful interagency collaboration, and the actions taken to make improvements. Lessons and findings are discussed to assist other groups to better understand the need for interagency collaboration, and assist them as they consider what types of agency changes are needed to enhance communication and cooperation.
These documents are in pdf format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.
