Schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act) requires each local authority to adopt a Code of Conduct. Once adopted, all elected members are required to comply with the code. This Code of Conduct provides guidance on the standards of behaviour that are expected from the Mayor and elected members of the Wairoa District Council.

The Code applies to elected members in their dealings with:

• each other
• the Chief Executive
• all staff employed by the Chief Executive on behalf of the Council
• the media
• the general public.
  

The objective of the Code is to enhance:

• the effectiveness of the Council as the autonomous local authority with statutory responsibilities for the good local government of the Wairoa District
• the credibility and accountability of the Council within its community
• mutual trust, respect and tolerance between the elected members as a group and between the elected members and management.
  

This Code of Conduct seeks to achieve its objectives by recording:

• an agreed statement of roles and responsibilities (recorded in Part Two of the code)
• agreed general principles of conduct (recorded in Part Three of the code)
• specific codes of conduct applying to particular circumstances or matters (also recorded in Part Three of the Code).

Elected members are primarily accountable to the electors of the district through the democratic process. However members must note that the Auditor-General may hold them to account for unlawful actions or expenditure or for breaches of the Local Authorities (Members’ Interests) Act 1968.

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 WDC Code of Conduct