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Code of Conduct for Effective Governance

Elected members are required to adhere to a code of conduct. Council last adopted its Code of Conduct on 30 November 2022. This Code provides guidance on the standards of behaviour expected of Elected Members and Members appointed to Council committees and sub-committees and can be found here.

The general principles of the Ruapehu District Council Code of Conduct for Elected Members are provided below.

Public interest: members should act solely in the public interest.

Integrity: members should not act or take decisions to gain financial or other benefits for

themselves, their family, or their friends, or place themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might inappropriately influence them in their work.

Tāria te wā and kaitiakitanga/stewardship: members should use long-term perspective when making decisions. Decisions, which impact on past, current and future generations, also affect collective well-being.

Objectivity: members should act and take decisions impartially, fairly, and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

Accountability: members will be accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and will submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

Openness: members should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner and not withhold information from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

Honesty: members should be truthful and not misleading.

Leadership: members should not only exhibit these principles in their own behaviour but also be willing to challenge poor behaviour in others, wherever it occurs.

Elected Members have specific obligations as to their conduct under the following pieces of legislation:

  • Schedule 7 of the LGA, which includes obligations to act as a good employer in respect of the Chief Executive, and to abide by the current Code of Conduct and Standing Orders.
  • The Local Authorities (Members Interests) Act 1968, which regulates the conduct of Elected Members in situations where there is, or could be, a conflict of interest between their duties as an elected member and their financial interests.
  • The Secret Commissions Act 1910 that prohibits Elected Members from accepting gifts or rewards which could be seen to sway them to perform their duties in a particular way.
  • The Crimes Act 1961 regarding the acceptance of gifts for acting in a certain way and the use of official information for private profit.
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