Photo: RNZ / Peter de GraafNorthland Regional Council chairperson Pita Tipene has called on Cabinet Ministers to stop making "derogatory" comments about councils. Representatives from local and regional councils were gathered in the Beehive's banquet hall for the All of Local Government conference on Thursday. "Too often I hear politicians who sit around the Cabinet table, and you are the highest ranking politician who will address this forum, making very derogatory comments, particularly about regional councils but councils in general," he said. "There are comments that come from Cabinet ministers, in fact from the prime minister himself, who say things like councils have got no social licence. "It's really playing councils off against each other because the focus is squarely on regional councils.

Source: Stuff February 26, 2026 06:54 UTC