The changes being made to local government under the new Local Government Reform Amendment Act are butchering the way local authorities work, says Tauranga Mayor.

Mayor Stuart Crosby made the comments at the opening of the Rethinking Local Government conference at the ASB Stadium today where representatives from councils, community groups and the public are meeting to discuss the changes.

A local government conference is being held at the ASB Stadium.

He says the Act has butchered rather than reformed local government, and his experience of the last round of local government reforms in 1989 is that it can be a traumatic and tumultuous experience.

'It can be an agonising experience,” says Stuart.

The conference, organised by the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce is attended by about 270 people comprising 60-80 politicians, council staff, community groups and the public.

The aim of the conference is to discuss the future of Bay of Plenty councils and provide a forum to present and discuss pressures, trends and opportunities for local government reform.

The law change means anyone can now apply for a reorganisation of local councils, so long as they show there is community support; identify the rationale for change; and explain how proposed changes promote good local government.

All it takes is a petition signed by 10 per cent of affected electors in any affected district to demand a poll.

Speakers include internationally and nationally recognised authorities in local government, economics, demographics, infrastructure and iwi.

The experience and lessons for the Bay of Plenty in light of the reform of local government in Auckland will be covered by Sir Bob Harvey, the previous Waitakere City Mayor. Rod Oram and Peter McKinley will identify the many pressures driving reform and the issues and options for strengthening local government in the Bay.

Professor Natalie Jackson of Waikato University will examine the critical role demographic changes are playing, and Stephen Selwood, CEO of the NZ Council for Infrastructure, addresses the significant infrastructure challenges the region faces.

Antoine Coffin, Chairman of Tauranga Moana Iwi Property Management Company will present options and opportunities for local government and iwi partnerships, and Paul Tustin, Partner Cooney Lees Morgan will identify what the private sector needs from Councils.

The conference will be chaired by Associate Professor Dr Bill Ryan from the School of Government, Victoria University, who will also provide a comparative overview of local government reform in other regions.