GOV & MGMT

Why Should I Use Dr Steven For Governance & Management?

For a decade he led the Centre of Excellence (EquiP) at Local Government New Zealand and consulted with councils internationally, including Fiji, India, Japan and South Africa.

He designed and delivered strategic retreats, asset management programmes, and digital learning platforms tailored to elected members and executive teams.

He led and delivered in-depth Functional Reviews and Shadow Local Government Excellence Assessments for many councils, with multiple requests for further engagement.

Trusted Training: Dr Steven has over 25 years of experience in local governance and public service, with a doctoral foundation in Indigenous community leadership and a decade leading LGNZ’s Centre of Excellence

The Go To For Guidance: He’s trained and advised hundreds of councillors across New Zealand, been published globally, and developed tools now used by elected members, Chief Executives and iwi relationship teams to lift performance.

Real world experience: Steven’s toolkits are built from real-world council experience — not theory — and he is ready to help you lead with confidence, support your team and get ahead of the changes coming with the new Amendment Bill.

Does Dr Steven Also Offer Self-Paced Learning Support?

Yes! Inside The Governance Induction Modules and Handbook Dr Steven Will Also Support You With

Great Governance Foundations: Understand what great governance looks like at a District Council and how it is practiced.
Roles and Leadership Clarity: Learn who leads the work of governance and how responsibilities are shared.
Building Strong Relationships: Develop governance maturity behaviours to establish great working relationships with councillors and the CEO.
Long-Term Outcomes Thinking: Explore what the District will look like in 5, 10, and 30 years, decision by decision.
Public Trust and Expectations: Learn how to meet community expectations through the Code of Conduct and Standing Orders.
Working with the Organisation: Gain insight into engaging with the CEO and Council officers at committees and in the governance-management interface.
Professional Boundaries: Maintain professionalism and appropriate boundaries with staff, including the CEO, while upholding health, safety, and good employer obligations.
Shaping Strategy Together: Learn how to simplify strategy, gain traction for your priorities, and secure common agreement.
Committee Effectiveness: Understand how to plan committee work and deliver on agreed plans.
Decision-Making Skills: Strengthen your ability to make sound decisions with an open mind, balancing advocacy with governance responsibility.
Representation with Professionalism: Move from community advocacy to governing for the whole District with professionalism.
Communicating with the Community: Represent Council to the public, including explaining policies you may not personally agree with.
The Triennium Overview: Gain a mountain-top view of the full Triennium to see the bigger picture of your governance journey.
Governing the Big Kit: Build confidence in governing asset management and preparing for Long-Term Planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What shape can the Gov-Mgmt work take?

Do the workshop and modules need to go in order?

Most councils choose a half-day facilitated workshop to establish expectations, culture, and strategic direction. Alongside this, elected members can complete the Governance Induction Modules (GIM) at their own pace. Each module is designed to prompt reflection and insight, not pressure — you can work through them in one sitting or revisit them across the term.

Do the workshop and modules need to go in order?

Not necessarily. While the half-day workshop provides a structured pathway, the GIM modules are flexible. Each stands alone and can be used when it’s most relevant to your governance journey. Many councils use a workshop to set context and then draw on the modules throughout the Triennium for ongoing reflection and learning.

Will this help with current legislative and governance changes?

Yes. Both the workshop and modules include prompts aligned with the Local Government Amendment Bill’s emphasis on infrastructure, wellbeing, and service delivery. The programme helps councils connect past achievements to future responsibilities, while giving a framework for long-term planning and good governance practices.

What ongoing support is available after the workshop?

Will this help with current legislative and governance changes?

We offer optional 9 and 18-month check-ins to revisit council culture, behaviours, and governance outcomes. The GIM Handbook provides additional reflection prompts for elected members to continue building skills and confidence across the Triennium. Councils can also integrate your early priorities into your CEO's KPIs and have Dr Steven manage your Annual Performance process too.

So What Do I Get With Governance Management Package?

Secure one-click access to the full Governance Induction Modules set plus the Handbook section with each module.

A tailored in-house workshop programme, drawing on sector best practice and real challenges facing councils.
Facilitated sessions designed to:
- Establish expectations, set priorities, and monitor progress.
- Explore “where, what and how” we are governing.
- Build strong working relationships between councillors and the CEO.
- Honour Te Tiriti partnerships and strengthen good governance structures.
A strategic context briefing to align governance with your council's environment, resources, demographics, and future pressures.
Governance in practice: learn how committees work, how decisions are made, and how to balance advocacy with responsibility.
Leadership and culture building: define team culture, behaviours, and expectations, supported by a Council Charter (with 9 and 18-month review points if required).
Exposure to sector tools and insights that reinforce national good-practice benchmarks.
Connection of the induction to long-term priorities and outcomes reporting frameworks, enabling council to link daily decisions with future direction.

CEO Engagement Framework (stand-alone or can combine): Dr Steven’s CEO Engagement Framework is a structured approach that strengthens the connection between elected members and executive leadership. It equips councils to embed their agreed priorities into CEO KPIs, clarify performance expectations, and establish a transparent line of sight from governance decisions to organisational delivery. Councils using this framework benefit from improved accountability, stronger alignment to Council priorities and a more resilient relationship between elected members and their Chief Executive.
Follow-up and support options available: check-ins, performance programme integration, and Dr Steven’s CEO Engagement Framework video and guide — designed to help councils turn induction momentum into sustained governance impact. Use the password Accelerate24 to watch the video.

What Councils Say About Dr Steven

Ruapehu District Council

Ruapehu District Council has had a very productive relationship with Steven for a number of years now. His knowledge on Iwi relationships and engagement was particularly insightful and useful. His work on governance processes was also appreciated.

Rangitikei District Council

Rangitikei District Council has worked with Dr Finlay over the past few years - his innovative, relaxed style - along with his stories and whiteboard drawings - make his training sessions really dynamic, but very relevant. I would recommend him, especially to explain the differences between Governance and Management - our sessions with him on this topic were of great benefit to our Council.

Hamilton City Council

Our Council had a very positive experience working with Dr Steven as part of our Long-Term Plan preparation with Elected Members. Steven was very attentive to our specific requirements and during the planning phase gave us great confidence by playing back to us what he was hearing and how he thought the session would work best.