Editing Politics of New Zealand (section)

==Local government==
{{Main|Local government in New Zealand}}
New Zealand is a [[unitary state]] rather than a [[federation]]—local government has only the powers conferred upon it by the national Parliament.<ref>{{cite web|title=Local government in New Zealand|url=http://www.localcouncils.govt.nz/lgip.nsf/wpg_url/About-Local-Government-Local-Government-in-New-Zealand-Index|publisher=[[Department of Internal Affairs (New Zealand)|Department of Internal Affairs]]|access-date=8 September 2017|language=en}}</ref> These powers have traditionally been distinctly fewer than in some other countries; for example, police and education are run by [[central government]].<ref>{{cite web|title=A guide to New Zealand's central government agencies|url=https://www.ssc.govt.nz/sites/all/files/guide-to-central-govt-agencies-1feb15.pdf|publisher=New Zealand Government|access-date=27 October 2017|date=1 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001081957/http://www.ssc.govt.nz/sites/all/files/guide-to-central-govt-agencies-1feb15.pdf|archive-date=1 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Local government is established by statute, with the first Municipal Corporations Act having been passed by the Legislative Council in 1842. Local governance is currently defined by the [[Local Government Act 2002]].<ref name="CLGF"/>

[[Local elections in New Zealand|Local elections]] are held every three years to choose [[Regions of New Zealand|regional]], [[Cities of New Zealand|city]] and [[Districts of New Zealand|district]] councillors, including [[mayors in New Zealand|mayors]], and [[Community boards in New Zealand|community board]] members.<ref>{{cite web|title=Local Electoral Act 2001 No 35 (as at 21 March 2017), Public Act 10 Triennial general election|url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2001/0035/latest/DLM93441.html?search=ts_act_\Electoral++Act_resel&p=1#DLM93441|publisher=Parliamentary Counsel Office|access-date=8 September 2017|language=en-NZ}}</ref>