Christine Cheyne

Coasts for Sale: Gentrification in New Zealand

The “sea change” phenomenon, or the movement of people from metropolitan to non-metropolitan parts of the country (and especially to coastal areas) is well-documented in Australia, but is now becoming increasingly apparent in New Zealand also. Since 2000 there has been an unprecedented and extremely rapid expansion in the property market, with prices booming for settlements in scenic locations, especially along the coast. This paper reports on a study of six coastal settlements in New Zealand, all of which have experienced this property boom. It found that many of the characteristics of gentrification are becoming increasingly apparent in coastal New Zealand, with particularly negative ramifications for certain parts of the community, namely indigenous communities and low income rental residents, though for many residents, the experience has been largely positive. Planning has so far failed to engage with the gentrification process or to recognise its implications for the wider coastal user community. The paper explores the contradictions associated with the gentrification process. It argues that the future of these communities needs to be wrested back from the dictates of the property market by implementing community-based planning, supported by local government.

A rising tide lifts all boats? A preliminary investigation into the impact of rising New Zealand coastal property prices on small communities

Abstract Since the early 2000s, property values have escalated in many coastal areas in New Zealand. While the mainstream media see the increasing property values as a positive economic development, Australian research suggests that migration to coastal settlements and increasing property values in those settlements is a more complex phenomenon and warrants close attention. The Australian research reveals significant social and cultural shifts occurring as well as the more widely discussed ecological impacts. In order to find out more about the social impacts of recent rapid property price increases on previously slow growing and comparatively inexpensive settlements, exploratory research involving interviews with key informants in six small coastal settlements was carried out in 2004. The study demonstrates the importance of micro‐level research to complement macro‐level analysis of development patterns and contributes to the emergent international literature on nonmetropolitan development trends since the 1990s. It highlights the need for more co‐ordinated and integrated development of the small settlements based on a comprehensive assessment of current and future social, economic, and environmental impacts of development.

Changing Urban Governance in New Zealand: Public Participation and Democratic Legitimacy in Local Authority Planning and Decision-Making 1989–2014

Enhancing democracy was a paradoxical aspect of the neo-liberal-inspired public sector reforms that occurred in the 1980s and 1990s in many Western liberal democracies. The so-called ‘New Zealand model’ of public management, which attracted international attention, formed the backdrop of significant reforms of local government and planning legislation which transformed urban governance in New Zealand. Environmental decision-making was devolved to regional and city/district councils, along with new requirements for public participation in both planning and local government legislation to foster accountability. At the time, these new public participation provisions received international acclaim. However, legislative, economic, social and technological change has exposed deficiencies in statutory public participation in local authority planning and decision-making. This article reviews developments over the past quarter century in participatory planning provisions and considers the implications for urban governance. Connections are highlighted between the changes in New Zealand and the broader shifts in public participation that have been observed internationally as a result of the impact of neo-liberalisation and further developments in public management (including post-new public management). The article concludes by discussing the challenges associated with fostering participatory planning and public participation in contemporary urban governance arrangements shaped by neo-liberal policies focused on austerity and efficiency.

The European Union and New Zealand: Converging approaches to the knowledge-based economy

Since 2000, the European Union (EU) and New Zealand (NZ) have adopted strikingly similar policy approaches towards the knowledge economy despite being different and distant political actors. By way of explanation, historical as well as socio-cultural ties between European member states and NZ may be brought forward but they do not constitute satisfactory explanatory factors. Evidence suggests that policy transfer between the EU and NZ is visible not only in the ideational dimension but also as an external source of legitimacy of NZs political strategies. In this article we discuss the shared normative basis of their broad policy approaches and the orientation of public policy prescriptions. The aim is to seek to develop a more nuanced understanding of policy transfer processes on the international level between two different polities by considering their respective responses to the knowledge-based economy with the emphasis put on voluntary transfer of policy and lesson-drawing.

Empowerment or Encumbrance? Exercising the STV Option for Local Authority Elections in New Zealand

The introduction of proportional representation into New Zealand parliamentary elections in 1996 increased the momentum for introducing proportional representation into local elections. Legislation passed in 2001 provides local choice regarding the electoral system for triennial local authority elections from 2004. In this article we review the way local authorities responded to the opportunity to choose between the current first-past-the-post (FPP) system and single transferable voting (STV). We examine the communication and consultation carried out by local authorities and discuss the degree to which the exercise of the STV option reflects the principles of the Act and contributes to the goal of empowering communities.

Changing Local Political Leadership: The New Zealand Mayor in Contemporary Local Governance

Recent local elections have drawn attention to local political leadership in New Zealand. This article situates local political leadership in the context of recent theorising about typologies of local government and also in the context of changing styles of political leadership. The requirements of leadership are evolving as the role of local government and government more generally has been shaped by new public management and in particular the increasing emphasis on joined-up government and partnerships. The emergence of systems of local governance where political activities extend beyond the institution of ‘local government’ to encompass nongovernmental institutions and networks of institutional actors highlights the need for a more facilitative style of local political leadership. As well as the need to manage relationships with these networks, local political leadership and representative democracy more generally cannot be viewed in isolation from citizen participation and community involvement, and, indeed, these are now complementary aspects of local governance. This article examines recent literature on local political leadership and presents findings from a recent research project which examined leadership styles and the interface between leadership and community involvement.

The Kiwi Connection: Reflections on Local Governance Policy Transfer between the UK and New Zealand

Abstract Local governance policy has been transferred between the United Kingdom and New Zealand since the mid-nineteenth century. In recent decades, however, the processes of exchange have become more complex and more bidirectional. This article argues that contemporary policy transfer is the product of a complex interchange involving three spheres of analysis: ideological and political forces, ideas in good currency and the roles of scholars in cross-national exchange. The article concludes by considering the changing roles of academics in international policy transfer. It suggests that scholarship in this area needs to be encouraged and developed.

Creating Treaty-based local governance in New Zealand: Māori and Pākehā views

ABSTRACT This article explores the need for Treaty-based local governance, raised to national prominence by the 2014 outrage against New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd, who advocated a Māori ward for 2016. The Treaty of Waitangi influenced the creation of Māori seats in Parliament in the nineteenth century, and a provision for Māori seats in local councils in 2001. There has been limited uptake of the latter and Māori remain significantly under-represented. Innovations in governing arrangements have allowed non-elected Māori to take up advisory roles and, in some cases, decision-making roles. We argue that these do not ensure fair and effective Māori representation. Ad hoc and unpredictable structures have failed to deliver fair and effective representation to all New Zealanders. There is a pressing need for a New Zealand constitutional debate – a conversation among Māori and non-Māori – to devise a governance model that addresses the Treaty of Waitangi as New Zealand’s founding document.

Book Review: Melanie Nolan, Breadwinning: New Zealand Women and the State (Christchurch: University of Canterbury Press, 2000), pp. 386,

and one extra-parliamentary staff member, dates from 1996. Based upon 120 in-depth interviews conducted with members, researchers, and parliamentary officials in the four countries between 1996 and 1999, the author compares the various arrangements which operate and examines the profile of research assistants as well as their legislative, constituency, political and media related functions. His findings are largely what might be expected. So much depends upon the nature and skills of the MP. On one hand there are the Austin Mitchell’s of this world who believe that instead of the two and half staff that the existing British allowance enables an MP to employ, each MP needs a total of six or more. There is little doubt that Mitchell could harness the work of six; when this reviewer last visited him in his office it resembled a parliamentary question assembly line with at least five people busily occupied-his regular staff being supplemented by US interns. Whether the mass production of questions and ‘trawling’ is an enhancement of MPs’efficiency is a matter of opinion. Certainly, answering these ‘barrages’ is a very time consuming and costly process although this is an aspect not considered by the author. At the other extreme, some MPs are unwilling, or simply unable, to delegate any matter of importance to anyone, with the result that so-called ‘research’ consists of the most mundane office functions. Secretaries may be engaged largely on what legitimately might be deemed research, whilst many socalled research assistants find themselves heavily involved in administrative tasks. Moreover, at different times Klinkum refers to Staffers, Executive Secretaries, Secretaries, Legislative Assistants, Personal Assistants and Researchers as well as Personal Research Assistants; some rationalisation is sorely needed. The author finds that, for the countries surveyed, the problems associated with personal research assistants are ‘not inconsiderable’. Among other problems, he cites the diversion into routine administrative tasks, high turnover, uneven management and utilisation of staff, isolation, lack of cooperation, as well as lack of experience and resources. Despite this, arguing that ‘the use of personal research assistants appeared to be no lower in countries where Members had control over their office budgets, than in countries where a certain number of staff were allocated to a Member’ the author believes that Members see real value in the range of functions performed by researchers. This is undoubtedly true, but this somewhat lame conclusion fails to enlighten us about how, or where, the effectiveness of MPs is enhanced, or indeed, whether this is the best way to achieve that end. It was a disappointing way to end an otherwise useful study.

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uncritical way to suggest that in more traditional societies, there is respect for the elderly, who always have their place, whereas in industrial societies, such as countries of immigration, the elderly have lost this status. Rarely is the harsh reality of the Eskimo elderly mentioned in these scenarios or many of the other examples which could indicate that there is in fact no evidence of a common tradi-