faa a Office of Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-liga ‘MP for Maungakiekie Minister of Local Government Associate Minister of Health Minister for Pacific Peoples Minister for Ethnic Communities David Seymour Member of Parliament for Epsom Parliament Buildings WELLINGTON 6160 15 FEB 2016 16 FEB 2016 Dear David, I thank you for your recent letter to my predecessor, Hon Paula Bennett. You wrote about amending the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act) to provide councils the ability to fine people who breach certain bylaws, by issuing infringement notices. 1 appreciate the concerns you have with the current bylaw enforcement mechanism, and the stress windscreen washers have brought to your constituents. My predecessor discussed this matter with Lawrence Yule, President of Local Government New Zealand at a meeting last year. An amendment to the Act to allow an infringement notice regime is not straightforward due to the diversity and number of bylaws in existence across all of local government, as well as the variable overall quality of council bylaws. The potential widening of infringement regimes, the impact on the judicial system, and the appropriateness of infringement notices are also factors that need to be carefully considered, There are no current plans to amend the Act as proposed by the local government sector. However, I would be interested in your views about how these issues can be addressed as I am keen to ensure that local government has the appropriate tools to enforce its bylaws. I have also passed your letter to my officials for their consideration. I thank you again for writing. I hope this information is helpful Yours sincerely, Hoh Peseta Sam Lotu-liga Minister of Local Government Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand, Telephone 64 4 817 6839 Facsimile 64 4 817 6539