The Prime Minister's management style criticized by opposition.
At its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year, the Government faced criticism from the Green Party over its handling of local government. According to Celia Wade Brown, Green Party spokesperson on Local Government, the Prime Minister is "micromanaging our councils into austerity." The party argues that councils should be empowered to serve their communities, particularly in the face of climate change and natural disasters.
However, the Government has maintained a centralized system of governance, depriving councils of resources and tools they need to properly serve their communities. This decision was criticized by Celia Wade-Brown as "Luxon localism," which she claims is a means of dictating policy from the top down rather than supporting local democracy.
The removal of wellbeing principles from local government has also been criticized, as it erodes accountability and limits community influence. The Green Party advocates for councils to be properly resourced to serve their communities and work with them to achieve necessary change.