NZQA registered unit standard
14951 version 3
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Title
Demonstrate introductory knowledge and understanding of New
Zealand local government
Level
4
Credits
5
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe the
structure, purposes, and powers of New Zealand's local
government; and explain how New Zealand citizens as
individuals and/or as groups participate in local government.
Classification
Public Sector Services > Public Sector Core Skills
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
This unit standard is intended for people who are, or intend to be, employed in the
public sector.
2
Definition
Public sector refers to the State sector (central Government), including the Public
Service, crown entities, non-uniformed staffs of the services and forces, offices of
Parliament; and all local authorities (local Government), including local authority
trading enterprises (LATEs).
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe the structure, purposes, and powers of New Zealand's local government.
Evidence requirements
1.1
The description identifies different local government organisations in New
Zealand, and explains the composition of each.
Range
1.2
regional councils, territorial authorities (city councils, district
councils, community boards), unitary authorities.
The description outlines the purposes and powers of local government
organisations.
Range
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
examples of organisations include but are not limited to – regional
councils, city councils, district councils, community boards;
evidence of three examples is required.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
1.3
Given a situation, the candidate is able to describe the relationship between
local and central governments.
Range
1.4
14951 version 3
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may include but is not limited to – roles of the Minister of Local
Government, Local Government Commission, Higher Salaries
Commission, Department of Internal Affairs, Office of the Auditor
General.
The description explains compliance with governance requirements of Local
Government legislation.
Outcome 2
Explain how New Zealand citizens as individuals and/or as groups participate in local
government.
Evidence requirements
2.1
The explanation outlines citizen participation through the electoral process.
Range
2.2
The explanation outlines citizen participation through representation to Council.
Range
2.3
franchise, elections, voting procedures, review of membership and
basis of election.
examples include but are not limited to – access to Mayor and
councillors, right to public information, select committees, citizen
initiated petitions and referendums, lobby groups, annual plan,
special consultative procedures, long term Council community
plan, funding policy, district plan, strategic plan;
evidence of three examples is required.
The explanation outlines citizen participation through appeal to public sector
bodies to protect rights and interests.
Range
Planned review date
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
examples of public sector bodies include but are not limited to –
Mayor, councillor(s) and/or Council, Environment Court,
Ombudsman, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
Office of the Auditor General, Privacy Commissioner;
evidence of three examples is required.
31 December 2013
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
14951 version 3
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Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
31 August 1998
31 December 2012
Review
2
27 May 2003
31 December 2012
Review
3
20 May 2011
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0121
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMRs). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact The Skills Organisation info@skills.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes
to the content of this unit standard.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016