Simpson Grierson is the leading supplier of legal services to local authorities in New Zealand. We act for 77 of the 85 local authorities in the country. We are the lead legal adviser to Auckland City Council, the largest local authority in the country, and to 8 other major councils. We are principal adviser to Local Government New Zealand, the industry association. We also act for central government and other agencies on matters relating to local government, and other public bodies, trusts and subsidiaries.

Our expertise ranges from the day to day operation of councils in their statutory and political environments to the highest level strategic developments affecting local government as a whole.

Typical local government issues on which we advise are statutory processes, statutory compliance, consultation, official information, privacy, Local Government Act (and other relevant legislation and bylaws), local government structures (including business units and LATEs), governance structures and requirements, elected members' obligations, codes of conduct, conflicts of interest, financial management, rating, uniform charges, funding, elections, meetings, legislative drafting, re-organisations, statutory role and nature of local government employment, trade wastes, property, reserves construction, outsourcing, tendering, advice on the provision of services, period contracts, liability issues (tortious and contractual), officials indemnity claims, judicial review, declaratory judgements, enforcement proceedings and prosecutions.

In the regulatory or environmental area we advise and appear in proceedings on resources issues including resource consents (land, subdivision, air and water), designations, liquor licensing, Building Act, Public Works Act, HSNO, enforcement, maori issues, forestry and fishing.  This includes related judicial review proceedings, hearings before Councils, the Environment Court (and appeals), the High Court and Court of Appeal, and mining, quarrying, roading, landfill, and telecommunications projects.

Indicative major projects include:

• Advising  New Zealand Minerals Industry Association in proceedings in the Environment Court, High Court and Court of Appeal on the meaning of "prohibited activity" status.
  
• Advising and representing Local Government New Zealand and three councils in proceedings in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Privy Council relating to a rating valuation issue with liability implications for most councils.
  
• Advising a local government/central government joint project on the implementation of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002.
  
• Drafting and promoting various Local Bills, including the Taranaki Regional Council Empowering Act 2001 and the Rodney District Council (Pen-link) Bill.
  
• Lobbying and advising on the Local Government Bill.
  

Simpson Grierson is a proud sponsor of the Society of Local Government Managers.