There are expectations of how elected members act, and interact, with other members, staff and the public when they are carrying out their duties. An important part of this is balancing duties and personal interests to minimise or avoid any conflicts of interest.
This section describes the relationship and behavioural expectations of elected members, as set out in the council’s Code of Conduct. Conflicts of interest between elected member’s duties and personal interests, as set out in legislation and in case law, are discussed in detail in Section 10: How council decisions are
Elected members have two key roles, and at times they will need to carefully balance these:
as a member of the Governing Body or local board - making decisions on a range of matters
as a representative of the community - elected members represent Auckland’s diverse communities as a region and in local board areas.
A ward councillor is required to act in the interests of the whole region while at the same time representing their ward. Where there is a conflict, the councillor is required to act in the best interests of the region, which is what councillors promise to do when they make their statutory declarations. A similar situation exists for a local board member who is elected on a subdivision basis.
It can be difficult to separate a member’s public and private roles. For example, members may be asked for their views on a council decision when out with family, or they may wish to sign a petition in their individual capacity. Members should refer to the Council’s Code of Conduct for guidance.
