Legislation applicable to Council
Parliament is elected to deal with issues relevant to Aotearoa New Zealand as a nation and to its people in general.
Local government works in much the same way. Individuals elect representatives to local authorities, to work on solutions for local issues. This includes providing an infrastructure and planning framework in which communities can grow and the economy can flourish.
Everything local authorities do is within the legislative and policy framework established and maintained by Parliament and/or Central Government. Some statutes also establish Councils' accountability to Central Government for delivering a function or for the expenditure of some grants and subsidies.
An Act is a law passed by Parliament (before an Act is passed, it is called a Bill). Many Acts have supporting regulations, which are laws made under an Act of Parliament. Regulations generally deal with matters of detail or administration, or matters that are subject to frequent change.
This page lists some of the key legislation that applies to all New Zealand local authorities. For more information on the particular piece of legislation please click on the specific link for that Act below.
Current Acts that affect South Waikato District Council:
A
- Accident Compensation Act 2001
- Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hāpu Claims Settlement Act 2008
- Animal Products (Ancillary and Transitional Provisions) Act 1999
- Animal Products Act 1999
- Animal Welfare Act 1999
- Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act 1994
B
C
- Children Act 2014
- Citizenship Act 1977
- Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002
- Climate Change Response Act 2002
- Commerce Act 1986
- Companies Act 1993
- Conservation Act 1987
- Consumer Guarantees Act 1993
- Copyright Act 1994
- Crimes Act 1961
D
E
F
- Fair Trading Act 1986
- Fencing Act 1978
- Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013
- Fire Service Act 1975
- Food Act 2014
- Freedom Camping Act 2011
G
H
- Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
- Health Act 1956
- Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
- Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014
- Holidays Act 2003
- Housing Act 1955
- Human Rights Act 1993
I
L
- Land Act 1948
- Land Transfer Act 2017
- Land Transport Act 1998
- Land Transport Management Act 2003
- Litter Act 1979
- Local Authorities (Members' Interests) Act 1968
- Local Electoral Act 2001
- Local Government (Rating) Act 2002
- Local Government Act 1974
- Local Government Act 2002
- Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
M
N
- New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990
- New Zealand Library Association Act 1939
- New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Act 1963
- New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000
- Ngāti Hauā Claims Settlement Act 2014
- Ngāti Korokī Kahukura Claims Settlement Act 2014
- Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Raukawa, and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Act 2010
O
P
- Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987
- Privacy Act 1993
- Property Law Act 1952
- Property Law Act 2007
- Prostitution Reform Act 2003
- Protected Disclosures Act 2000
- Psychoactive Substances Act 2013
- Public Audit Act 2001
- Public Bodies Contracts Act 1959
- Public Bodies Leases Act 1969
- Public Finance Act 1989
- Public Records Act 2005
- Public Works Act 1981
R
- Rates Rebate Act 1973
- Rating Valuations Act 1998
- Raukawa Claims Settlement Act 2014
- Remuneration Authority Act 1977
- Residential Tenancies Act 1986
- Reserves Act 1977
- Resource Management Act 1991
S
- Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012
- Secret Commissions Act 1910
- Senior Courts Act 2016
- Shop Trading Hours Act 1990
- Smoke-free Environments Act 1990
- Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act 1941
- Summary Offences Act 1981
T
U
W
- Wages Protection Act 1983
- Waikato Raupatu Claims Settlement Act 1995
- Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 2010
- Walking Access Act 2008
- Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act 2006
- Wild Animal Control Act 1977
Local legislation that confers powers on South Waikato District Council:
Tokoroa Agricultural and Pastoral Association Empowering Act 1968
More information
In terms of national policy being set by Central Government please refer to The Department of Internal Affairs.
If you are interested in how local government functions in Aotearoa New Zealand please refer to the Internal Affairs Department's pages on Local Councils.
For general resources please refer to the websites for Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) and Taituara - Local Government Professionals Aotearoa.
In terms of national policy being set by Central Government please refer to The Department of Internal Affairs' Local Government Policy page
Council Legislation, Planning Processes and Services
Our Strategies, Plans, Policies and Bylaws are developed to take into account any relevant requirements of the Acts listed above. Go to Strategies Plans, Policies and Bylaws to find more resources and information from our Counci l and how these Act are implemented. Our planning, guidance and legislative activities and documents also guide many of the services we provide.
