Local Government Focus Day Auckland

Settle in, grab a coffee, and meet a few friendly faces before we begin.

• Implementing AI tools and modern digital platforms, alongside cloud migration and cybersecurity upgrades.
• Upskilling staff, embedding agile practices, and fostering a digital-first culture to support innovation.
• Driving transformation initiatives that are reshaping council operations for more efficient, responsive, and forward-thinking service delivery.

• Increasing connectivity is expanding risk across community services
• Cyber resilience is now central to service delivery and public trust
• Securing converged IT and OT environments across critical services
• Embedding resilience into governance, risk and operational decision-making

Panel of experts discussing real-world applications of AI, data analytics, and digital tools in council operations.

• How AI and digital tools can enhance operational efficiency, creativity, and service delivery in councils.
• The impact of technological innovation on workforce culture, engagement, and upskilling.
• Key risks and strategies for managing cybersecurity, compliance, and change during digital transformation.

Sarah Cawsey

General Manager of Data Services, Auckland Council Group

Sam Dutta

AI Security and Governance Specialist, Hamilton City Council

Kevin Glynn

General Manager Customer & Digital Experience, Auckland Transport

Matthew Glover

Data & Insights Manager, Rotorua Lakes Council

Grab lunch, have a wander, and chat with industry partners and peers about practical ideas you can take back to work. Arguably the most important part of the day!

Streamlining Booking Processes – Explore practical strategies to reduce administrative bottlenecks in facility bookings and simplify workflows. Finance bottlenecks, online user journey, and discoverability

Maximising Staff Capacity – Free up staff time to focus on high-value work and deeper community engagement. Points of focus when not doing administrative tasks, Driving Smarter Resource Management – Implement efficiency measures that boost impact, improve service delivery, and set a leadership example. Points of focus when not doing administrative tasks.

How do councils navigate change while maintaining community trust?

New Zealand local government is operating in one of the most complex environments in its history. Structural reform, fiscal constraint, infrastructure pressures and growing community expectations are reshaping how councils operate and how they lead.

At the same time, communities expect greater transparency and clearer evidence that decisions are delivering real outcomes.

This session explores the practical strategies councils are using to align strategy, governance and performance, and how they can bring their communities with them through periods of change.

Building scalable, secure systems to support long-term growth and resilience.

This keynote will explore how purposeful leadership, empowered teams, and thoughtful technology adoption are reshaping how councils deliver for their communities.

Key points:

• Creating a culture that embraces change, continuous improvement, and digital confidence
• Enabling the workforce through modern tools, clear priorities, and strong leadership alignment
• Strengthening organisational capability to meet rising expectations in an increasingly tech-driven environment

A discussion with executive leaders on the realities of leading through financial pressure, rising expectations and reform, and how councils can collaborate to maintain performance, trust and community impact.

• Managing budget constraints, cost shifting, and resource pressures
• Balancing rising community expectations with operational realities
• Shared services models that work – practical structures for shared billing, asset management, digital platforms and compliance reporting across councils.

Matt Prosser

Chief Executive Officer, Wellington City Council

Clive Manley

Chief Executive Officer, Ruapehu District Council

Hayley Worthington

General Manager Strategic Improvement, Kaipara District Council

We’ll pull out a few highlights from the day, share what’s coming next, and point you to ways to stay connected.