New reporting framework for council planning and reporting
Councils across New Zealand will soon be operating under a new nationally consistent framework for planning and reporting, helping communities better understand how their councils are performing and how public money is being spent.
The Local Government (Local Authority Reporting) Amendment Regulations 2026 will come into force on 1 November 2026. The regulations introduce a standard set of eight groups of activities that councils must use when preparing long-term plans, annual plans and annual reports.
The new framework is designed to improve transparency, accountability and comparability across the local government sector. Currently, councils have more flexibility in how they group and report many activities, making it difficult for communities and stakeholders to compare information between councils. The new arrangements will establish a consistent basis for reporting while continuing to support local decision-making.