Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com

But voters still want rates kept under control as pressure grows on local government

For all the complaining about potholes, rates bills and never-ending roadworks, it turns out New Zealanders trust their local council far more than they trust central government.

A new poll released as more than 600 local government leaders gather in Rotorua for the annual SuperLocal conference has delivered a surprising result: 54 percent of New Zealanders trust their local council to make decisions for their community, compared with just 24 percent who trust central government.

That means councils enjoy more than double the trust rating of the politicians running the country.

Rehette Stoltz, President of Local Government New Zealand, says the findings reflect the simple reality that councils are closer to the communities they serve.

“Councils are on the ground and understand the unique needs of their communities,” Stoltz said.

The results come at a fascinating time for local government.

Ratepayers across the country have been hit with steep rates increases in recent years, creating growing calls for the Government to step in and cap future rises.

At first glance, many New Zealanders appear to support the idea. The survey found 51 percent backed a proposal to limit annual rates increases to between two and four percent.

But support quickly cooled when respondents were told what rates caps might actually mean.

More than 40 percent said they would be less likely to support rate caps if it resulted in higher fees and charges. Others became less enthusiastic when faced with the prospect of poorer services, delayed maintenance or less investment in local infrastructure.

In other words, New Zealanders want lower rates, but they also want smooth roads, working streetlights, rubbish collection, parks, libraries and flood protection.

That’s where councils say the challenge lies.

According to LGNZ, councils receive only around 10 percent of the country’s overall tax take while being responsible for roughly a third of public infrastructure investment.

The warning from local government leaders is stark: cap rates too aggressively and something will have to give.

The debate is likely to intensify in the months ahead as councils wrestle with ageing infrastructure, population growth and rising construction costs.

For now, however, one thing is clear.

New Zealanders may grumble about council decisions, but when it comes to trust, they’re still backing the people at the town hall ahead of the politicians in Wellington.