Who decides what: New Zealand.

A take-home sheet for people at the session. Other countries: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · India · Philippines.

Moraph for Good · Voice

Who decides what: New Zealand

Handout · moraph.org/commons/sessions/voice/who-decides-what

Government comes in layers, and each one handles different things. This sheet helps you work out who decides an issue where you live, and how to check.

The layers

National government handles matters for the whole country.
Many countries also have states, provinces or regions.
Local councils run the services you see every day, sometimes in more than one tier.
Special bodies may run schools, water, transport or libraries.

Who does what

Elected members set policy and approve budgets.
Staff run services and can explain how things work now.
To change something, contact elected members. To understand something, start with staff.

Finding out who decides

Start with your local government’s website.
Ask: who decides this, and when will it next be discussed?
Ask in writing and keep the reply.

Voting

For registration, deadlines and polling places, use only your official election office.
Don’t rely on messages, posts or calls for voting information.

In New Zealand

Central and local government. New Zealand has a central government and local government. Local government is made up of regional councils and territorial authorities (city and district councils). A unitary authority is a territorial authority that also has the powers of a regional council.
Parliament and the Government. Government has three branches. Parliament, the House of Representatives and its select committees, makes and updates laws and checks the actions of the executive. The executive is made up of Ministers supported by government agencies; it brings proposed laws to Parliament and decides policies. Judges and the courts interpret the law.
Regional councils. Regional councils are mainly responsible for environmental management in their region, including flood control, air and water quality, and pest control. They can also be responsible for public transport, regional reserves and bulk water supply.
City and district councils. These deliver services such as roads, water supply, wastewater and stormwater, rubbish collection and recycling, parks, libraries, swimming pools and community centres, and resource management planning, and they can make bylaws. Community boards can advocate for their local community, and in Auckland local boards share decisions on local matters.
Find your MP. MPs represent you in Parliament, and you have the right to contact an MP about any issue. The Electoral Commission helps you find your electorate, and the New Zealand Parliament website lists MPs and how to contact them.
Voting questions. If you are eligible, you must enrol, and the Electoral Commission can tell you whether you are. Local elections are held every 3 years by postal vote and are run by local councils.

Official places to check:

Local Government Commission: www.lgc.govt.nz/about-us/about-local-government-in-new-zealand
Govt.nz: www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/government-in-new-zealand
Govt.nz: www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/members-of-parliament
Govt.nz: www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/enrol-and-vote-in-an-election/enrol-to-vote
Govt.nz: www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/enrol-and-vote-in-an-election/vote-in-a-local-election

More free official help in New Zealand: moraph.org/commons/help/civic-engagement/nz

General information, not advice about your own situation. Checked 20 October 2026. If an official source says something different, it is right. Free to copy and adapt. moraph.org/commons/sessions/voice/who-decides-what