Local councils are preparing to lobby the next government in a bid to get a greater share of money and power.
The sector met in Christchurch at the weekend for its annual conference, agreeing to try to find consensus on the future for local government report which came out last month.
That recommended various reforms including funding increases, four-year terms, and stronger partnerships with iwi.
It also suggests reducing the number of councils from 80 to about 15.
Local Government New Zealand's newly elected president is Sam Broughton, who's mayor of Selwyn District Council.
Broughton spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
