Local Government Act 2002
The Local Government Act 2002 (sometimes known by its acronym, LGA) is an Act of New Zealand's Parliament that defines local government in New Zealand. There are 73 territorial authorities (local districts), each with an elected Mayor and elected Councillors. The districts are grouped under 12 regional authorities. History Local government in New Zealand derives its powers from statute rather than from any constitutional authority, there being no formal written constitution. Its origins can be found in the Municipal Corporations Act (1876), and it was built on the principle of ultra vires and that local government (the same as companies) can only do those things it is specifically authorised to do, and can not do anything it is not authorised to do. This requirement to have specific legislative authorisation resulted in a hodge podge of amendments to the local government legislation. For example, one of the former Local Government Act 1974's highly prescriptive provisions was section 663, which gave councils a statutory power to install, light and maintain a town clock. It is said that by the mid 1990s, the 1974 Act rivalled the country's income tax legislation in terms of size and complexity. With over 100 amendments, the 1974