Ratepayers' Report reveals the two NZ councils without Audit and Risk Committees

Our 2017 Ratepayers' Report - local government league tables - has identified Otorohanga, and Grey District Councils as the only two local authorities in New Zealand to govern without an Audit and Risk Committee.

Earlier in the year, Ratepayers' Report showed that Otorohanga, Grey and Waitomo District Councils were the only New Zealand councils failing to follow best practice in this area. Now that Waitomo District Council has introduced an Audit and Risk Committee it means Otorohanga and Grey District Councils are the only two not in line with the rest of the country.

Today we launched a campaign on behalf of the Otorohanga, and Grey District ratepayers, calling on their Council to introduce an Audit and Risk Committee.

According to LGNZ, Audit and Risk Committees provide councils with:

• Internal control framework and financial management practices;
• internal and external reporting and accountability arrangements;
• and financial risk management.

The costs associated with having a dedicated Audit and Risk Committee are minimal when weighed against the millions in potential savings of ratepayer money.

How can Otorohanga and Grey District Councils assure they are delivering value for money and managing risk, when they both refuse to implement the most basic oversight that is standard at nearly every other town hall in New Zealand?

If you agree that both Otorohanga and Grey District Councils should have an independent committee to oversee financial risk, click here to sign our petition.

Ratepayers' Report is free to access and online at www.ratepayersreport.nz.