After a hard fought community campaign, local democracy has been the winner against attempts to disband local Community Boards. The Tasman District Council had ignored public consultation and voted to recommend to the Local Government Commission that the Motueka and Golden Bay Community Boards be disestablished.

The Local Government Commission (LGC) subsequently overturned the Tasman District Council's recommendations. Community Boards will be retained in Motueka and Golden Bay for the 2007 Tasman District Council Elections.

CommunityAction shared the view of the vast majority of submitters to the TDC's representation review that Community Boards should be retained. We'd like to see more Community Boards established in all Wards and given real power and budgets to devolve local decisionmaking back to community level.

- To read the Nelson Mail Story on the LGC decision, click here

- To read the full Local Government Commission decision, click here