Photo: Clutha NZ
About the Otago Mayoral Forum
The Otago Mayoral Forum is the key mechanism for local authorities to communicate, coordinate and collaborate in the Otago region. Protocols for this purpose in each region are a requirement of the Local Government Act 2002.
The Forum enables Otago’s Mayors and the Chair of the Otago Regional Council to work together for the benefit of Otago. It meets quarterly to identify shared issues and opportunities, develop collaborative approaches, and review progress and achievements.
The Forum also provides a shared voice to advocate for Otago outside of the region, including with central government.
Sometimes this voice will present an agreed position, and at other times convey the different interests and viewpoints of the Forum’s members.
It’s important to know that decisions of the Forum are not binding on member councils. Forum members may choose to refer regional issues and decisions to their councils for consideration.
The Otago Local Authorities’ Triennial Agreement 2022-25 was ratified in February 2023 and includes terms of reference for the Otago Mayoral Forum.
Who is involved?
The Forum’s members are the region’s five Mayors and the Chair of the Otago Regional Council. Local authority chief executives attend Mayoral Forum meetings to support their Mayor/Chair and to assist the Forum to take forward its decisions and directions.
The Forum is supported by a permanent secretariat hosted by Otago Regional Council. The secretariat also manages and advises the Otago Chief Executives Forum, which meets two to four weeks prior to each Mayoral Forum.
Where relevant, cross-council working groups may be set up under the umbrella of the Forum to progress an issue or opportunity, or simply to share information across Otago’s local authorities.
Latest Updates
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Meeting
Otago Mayoral Forum - September 2024
06 September 2024
In September, the Forum heard from Hon Rachel Brooking MP and Glen Bennett MP, and received an update on the New Dunedin Hospital from Blake Lepper, Head of Infrastructure Delivery, Health NZ|Te Whatu Ora. Members of the Southland Mayoral Forum joined online to discuss water services delivery.
Meeting
Otago Mayoral Forum - June 2024
07 June 2024
In June, the Forum hosted Otago and Southland Director of Education Julie Anderson and had a visit from Business South Chief Executive Mike Collins. As in March, members of the Southland Mayoral Forum attended part of the meeting online to discuss water services delivery.
Meeting
Otago Mayoral Forum - March 2024
15 March 2024
The Forum's March meeting included discussion with officials from Te Whatu Ora and WellSouth and a visit from Dunedin-based Green MP Scott Willis. Members of the Southland Mayoral Forum attended part of the meeting online to discuss water services delivery.