Seymour calls for benchmarking council performance to assist ratepayers

Thursday 17 July 2025 · 4 outlets · 2 reports · updated Thu 17 Jul 2025, 1:41pm

In this story Christopher Luxon, David Seymour, Chris Bishop, Stats NZ

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour told local government leaders in Christchurch that benchmarking is needed to compare council performance. He criticised certain council demands and suggested councils should focus on roads, rats, rubbish and rates. Seymour noted that there is currently no policy for local government reform.

How they headlined it

4h

9:34am1:41pm

1. The Post via The PressThu 17 Jul 2025, 9:34am

   Healthy competition between councils ‘long overdue’ (opens in new tab)

   Also on Waikato Times (opens in new tab), The Press (opens in new tab)

2. Otago Daily TimesThu 17 Jul 2025, 1:41pm

   Seymour admits regs contribute to ‘enormous rate rises’ (opens in new tab)