Governance documents

The purpose of this policy is to provide an objective and transparent process for the appointment and remuneration of directors of council organisations, including the identification of the skills, knowledge, and experience needed in the roles.

The policy was adopted on 25 November 2025.

The Council is required under the Local Government Act 2002 to adopt a Code of Conduct for elected members. The Code of Conduct sets out the standards of behaviour expected from elected members in the exercise of their duties.

Its purpose is to:

• Enhance the effectiveness of the local authority and the provision of good local government of the community, city, district or region;
• Promote effective decision-making and community engagement;
• Enhance the credibility and accountability of the local authority to its communities; and
• Develop a culture of mutual trust, respect and tolerance between the members of the local authority and between the members and management.

This purpose is given effect through the values, roles, responsibilities and specific behaviors agreed in the code.

The Code of Conduct was adopted on 30 January 2020.

Council has adopted a governance structure that supports good decision-making and has robust processes. In order for us to effectively fulfil our overarching strategic decision-making role, the structure delegates certain decision-making authority to committees.

The Terms of Reference and Delegations from Council to Committees document outlines the specific roles, delegations, functions and authority of the committees.

Our governance structure was adopted on 25 November 2025 and amended on 31 March 2026.

Our Local Governance Statement is a collection of information about the processes that we use to engage with the Taupō District community. The statement outlines how the Council makes decisions and how the public can be involved in decision-making processes.

Section 40 of the Local Government Act 2002 requires Council to adopt a Local Governance Statement within six months following a triennial election.

Our Local Governance Statement was adopted on 31 March 2026.

The Local Government (Pecuniary Interests) Amendment Act 2022 requires Council to publish a summary of Elected Member’s Pecuniary Interests on its website. This is to provide transparency and to strengthen public trust and confidence in local government processes and decision making.

The document shows a summary of annual returns as at 13 February 2026.

Council makes a number of external appointments to various committees of council. This policy provides a clear and transparent process for the selection, appointment and remuneration of those external roles, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2002.

The policy was adopted in 2019 and reviewed on 25 November 2025.

Standing orders contain rules for the conduct of the proceedings of local authorities, committees, subcommittees, subordinate decision-making bodies, and local and community boards. Their purpose is to enable local authorities to exercise their decision-making responsibilities in a transparent, inclusive, and lawful manner.

In doing so the application of standing orders contributes to greater public confidence in the quality of local governance and democracy in general.

Our Standing Orders were adopted on 13 December 2022.