More than 600 leading experts, opinion formers and practitioners in local government from all corners of the Commonwealth will meet in Auckland, New Zealand in ten days time for the Commonwealth Local Government Conference 2007.
Heads of government, ministers with responsibility for local government, local government mayors, city leaders and councillors, private sector representatives and civil society representatives are attending the fourth Commonwealth Local Governemnt Conference, which will take place at the Aotea Centre in Auckland, New Zealand’s city of sails, from 26-29 March.
The conference, run by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) and this year hosted by the New Zealand government, will look at how local government can lead and deliver development, including achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and will highlight some of the recent innovations in community leadership in New Zealand and across of the Commonwealth. The discussions will help delegates to take back new ideas and developments to improve services in their own countries and councils.
Speakers at this high-profile event include
- Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand
- HE President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda
- Edward Lowassa, Prime Minister of Tanzania
- Dr Tonio Borg, Deputy Prime Minister of Malta
- HE Rt Hon Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary-General, and
- Ministers for local government, mayors and other local government leaders from across the Commonwealth.
- Prof Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University and Director of the UN Millennium Project will speak from New York by live video link.
The opening ceremony will include a powhiri, the traditional maori cultural welcome.
Issues that this conference will discuss include:
- What is meant by local leadership, and what can be done to support councils in providing local leadership for their communities
- How strategic local leadership can create strong thriving communities and tackle poverty, crime, HIV/AIDs and other issues and deliver development.
· Local government’s response to global issues such as disaster management and climate change.
/more
“As well as delivering key services, local councils also provide strategic leadership for their communities,” said CLGF Chair Hon Mayor Robert Montague.
“ This community leadership role is increasingly recognised not only in promoting the well-being of citizens, but in tackling global issues such as disaster management, meeting the Millennium Development Goals, climate change and poverty.
“This is a unique international conference that brings together leading local government policy makers and practitioners from every corner of the Commonwealth. I am looking forward to meeting all our colleagues,” he said.
Hon Mark Burton, Minister of Local Government New Zealand is hosting the conference with support from Basil Morrison, President of Local Government New Zealand. |
