How we work
By law
Various Acts of Parliament, such as the Local Government Act (LGA) 2002 and the Resource Management Act 1991, provide the framework to enable us to carry out our work.
The Local Government Act is not prescriptive, meaning that if the community wants us to do something - and is prepared to pay for it - we can do it.
Led by Councillors
Regional Councillors are elected every three years. They make key decisions about policy and budget, and are your community voice.
Management structure
Councillors appoint a Chief Executive to lead the organisation. Malcolm Nicolson is the Northland Regional Council Chief Executive. Council services and operations are led by a management team that operates the following business units:
- Operations - led by Tony Phipps
- Finance and IT - led by Lisa Aubrey
- Community Relations - led by Fleur King
- Human Resources - led by Judy Macdonald
- Planning and Policy - led by Kathryn Ross
- Northland Inc (economic development) - led by Colin Mitten
Find out more about our vision, mission and values
Each business group provides a range of services, as detailed below.
What we do
Our staff and business groups are involved in a wide range of activities.
Download a brochure that summarises what we do from our Resource Library
Our activities include:
Awards and funding
At different times of the year, we offer awards and funding to individuals and organisations across a variety of areas.
The biggest is the Environment Fund, which since 1996 has provided around $3 million to help people improve and protect Northland’s natural environment.
We also provide numerous schools with environmental education awards and support a range of business and rural industry awards.
Biosecurity
Biosecurity is about protecting our environment, economy and way of life from the harmful impacts of pest animals, pest plants and diseases. Our officers work with landowners to target regional pest plants and animals and help the rural economy by controlling possums to stop the spread of bovine Tuberculosis.
Education and public information
Our specialist staff hosts seminars and field days designed to educate Northlanders about a variety of topics linked to the environment, while others visit schools to deliver environmental education initiatives. We also produce a wide range of publications and self-help guides covering most aspects of our work.
Emergency management
Northland Regional Council co-ordinates the Civil Defence Emergency Management Group for the region. This group works together to minimise the potential effects of emergencies, prepare ourselves and the community, respond to emergencies and help the community to recover.
Harbours
We look after the navigational safety of all vessels in our region’s harbours – from Kaipara in the south to Parengarenga in the north - and around the regional coastline.
We encourage safe boating behaviour and are ready to respond in case of a marine oil spill.
Land management
We encourage landowners to recognise the economic and social value of managing land in a way that will protect the resource and meet the needs of current and future generations. Our officers work with landowners to develop sustainability and property conservation plans, and with rural community groups to promote soil conservation.
Pollution control
We maintain a 24-hour incident response service, conduct environmental assessments of industrial and commercial sites, and maintain a register of sites with hazardous industries or activities.
To report a pollution incident call our 24/7 Environmental Hotline: 0800 504 639.
Economic development
We support economic development through our Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) Northland Inc. Find the board members for Northland Inc
Transport
We help plan the region’s roading network and administer Whangarei’s urban bus service.
Environmental planning and monitoring
The region’s natural resources sustain our lives. We help people to use these resources appropriately and sustainably. Through regional plans, resource consents and monitoring, we work with the community to care for our environment – air, land, water and coast.
Flood protection
The region’s rivers can put homes, farmland, jobs, livelihoods and property at risk from flooding. We help communities protect themselves from the effects of flooding.
Water management
We ensure there is enough water for everyone - a difficult task with so many competing needs. Water allocation, use and monitoring help control the situation.
Our vision, mission and values
Everything we do is closely aligned to our vision, mission and values.
Read our vision, mission and values
Funding
We get our income from a variety of sources:
- general rates;
- income from investments;
- government grants;
- separate rates; and
- direct charges.
Find out more about rates and how the Council is funded
Council objectives
The council has defined a new set of council objectives for the future direction for the council as an organisation.
The council objectives are the outcomes that the council aims to achieve in order to promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of the region (and meet the new legal definition of “community outcomes”).
The council objectives are:
- Maintain and improve the quality of Northland’s overall environment.
- Build a business friendly environment that encourages business and employment
opportunities.
- Invest in Northland to increase all our communities’ economic performance and
quality of living and reduce disparities.
- Promote regionally significant infrastructure and improvements that enable economic development, enhance the environment, and connect people and Northland to the wider world.
- Encourage the sustainable access and use of our environment in ways that will progress our collective quality of living.
- Promote the awareness and appreciation of our heritage, landforms, freshwater and marine environment to encourage our collective pride in Northland.
Find out more:
View or download a copy of the Long Term Plan