Workshops
Join us for a packed programme of workshops. We’ll cover topics like smart cities, risk management, infrastructure, and the future of local government. Led by industry experts, these sessions provide practical strategies to address local government challenges. Engage in interactive discussions and hands-on activities and gain insights to drive positive change in your community.
12.00pm - 12.55pm | Thursday 22 August
The “new” future for local government: what direction are the current reforms taking the sector?
Sponsored by Simpson Grierson
Speakers: Mike Wakefield, Josh Cairns
With the government announcing they won’t address recommendations from the Future for Local Government review, where do we go from here? The new government focus will be on rebuilding the economy, unlocking new funding tools, and improving infrastructure to support growth.
Councils will likely need to increase planning efforts to create more housing and enhance core services while ensuring value for money. It's uncertain if this means a return to the pre-2019 focus on "core services" in the Local Government Act 2002 and the removal of the four "wellbeings".
In this workshop, we'll explore the proposed reforms for funding, city/regional deals, water, housing, and the Resource Management Act. We'll also discuss other potential reforms to support the government’s agenda, aiming to highlight the key challenges and issues councils will face in engaging with the government.
1.05pm - 2.00pm | Thursday 22 August
Local government's value: telling an evidence-based story
Sponsored by FrankAdvice
Speakers: Kira Oldfield, Andrea Black
Organisations must now prove their value, especially in terms of value for money. In this hands-on workshop, FrankAdvice and FrankCapability will combine their expertise in policy and training to teach you how to use strong evidence and present it creatively. You'll leave with fresh ideas on how to showcase the value of local government.
3.00pm - 3.55pm | Thursday 22 August
Making Hard Choices: Case studies in prioritising infrastructure
Sponsored by GHD
Speaker: David Norman
Councils face tough challenges: ageing infrastructure, rapid population growth, stricter regulations, and rising community expectations, all straining finances.
Join David Norman, Chief Economist at GHD, for a workshop on infrastructure investment in Aotearoa New Zealand. Through a scenario-based activity, you'll prioritise infrastructure projects within a limited budget, adjusting to new information like changing government priorities and costs.
David will share his expertise and GHD’s prioritisation framework. You'll gain practical skills for prioritising projects, access to resources, and valuable connections.
4.05pm - 5.00pm | Thursday 22 August
Risk Transfer – Finding the “Optimal Balance”
Sponsored by Aon
Speakers: Stephen Kane, Deanna Macdonald, Matthew Wilson
Councils face a complex mix of insured and uninsurable risks. How can they find the right balance in risk financing?
Join Aon's local government risk practice experts—Stephen Kane, Matthew Wilson, and Deanna Macdonald—for a strategic discussion on managing risk in your council. Explore the real-world implications of risk transfer, discuss a roadmap to success, and address some of the biggest challenges councils face.
9.00am - 9.55am | Friday 23 August
Making the case for investment in climate resilient infrastructure
Sponsored by Mott MacDonald
Speakers: Amanda Bryan, Mark Boniface, David Taylor
In 2020, Mott MacDonald teamed up with the Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment to pioneer a groundbreaking approach: the Physical Climate Risk Assessment Methodology (PCRAM). This open-source tool, born from extensive case studies and expert reviews, standardises risk assessment, linking infrastructure and financial sectors. In this session, you’ll learn more about PCRAM and how it equips asset owners to invest smartly and securely, safeguarding their assets and operations against climate impacts.
10.05am - 11.00am | Friday 23 August
Climate adaptation – barriers and opportunities for councils
Sponsored by Chapman Tripp
Speakers: Matt Yarnell, Nicola Swan, Kate Wilson Butler, Helen Bowie
Councils face increasing challenges in responding to, and recovering from, weather emergencies. This session will focus on strategies for local government to enhance resilience against threats to community safety and wellbeing, with a strong emphasis on climate change adaptation. Facilitated by Chapman Tripp, you’ll have the opportunity to share experiences and ideas on climate adaptation efforts. We'll explore barriers and discuss the needed conditions for effective action.
12.00pm - 12.55pm | Friday 23 August
Water: The things you want to know and the questions you should be asking
Sponsored by Water NZ
Speakers: Gillian Blythe, Belinda Cridge, Nicci Wood
Join us for an in-depth exploration of water governance, from stormwater management to drinking water and wastewater treatment. Led by Water New Zealand, this session delves into the economic, regulatory, and treatment dimensions crucial for local officials tackling infrastructure gaps, new laws, and advancing scientific insights.
1.05pm - 2.00pm | Friday 23 August
Smart IoT Technology + Smart Investment = Smart Cities
Sponsored by Neura, a Chorus and NNNCo partnership
Speakers: Joe Caccioppoli, Richard Fry, Tony Tilbrook, Robert Zagarella
All around the world cities are implementing smart technology to deliver real value for their communities. Chorus invites you to a practical workshop on how our new IoT platform will allow cities to make smarter decisions, provide smarter services to your communities and lower the cost to manage critical council infrastructure. This workshop will cover IoT solutions to monitor and manage water, including smartmetering. We will also discuss some international use cases along with smart funding solutions that can help councils facing capital constraints.