More than 560 delegates, including mayors, chief executives and other leaders and councillors from throughout the country, will converge on Dunedin when the latest Local Government New Zealand conference starts tomorrow.
Senior government ministers and stakeholders from the private sector, central government and non-governmental agencies will also attend.
Dunedin last hosted the conference in 2007.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said the city would be in the national spotlight during the three-day conference, which gave the country's councils the chance to collaborate and share common challenges, solutions and successes.
The bid to host the conference was made by Dunedin Venues and Enterprise Dunedin.
The city's reputation for innovation, creativity and wildlife were among the drawcards.
"Delegates will get to enjoy New Zealand's only Unesco City of Literature, experience Gigatown and see the country's wildlife capital,'' Mr Cull said.
The latest annual conference focused on planning for the future, until 2050.
Porirua City Deputy Mayor Ana Coffey and Dunedin city councillor Aaron Hawkins, who co-chair LGNZ's Young Elected Members Committee, will make a policy launch on the LGNZ 2050 Challenge, at the Dunedin Centre on Monday morning.
A high-powered line-up of New Zealand speakers includes Local Government Minister Sam Lotu-liga, Opposition leader Andrew Little, and Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Tim Keating.
Peter Kageyama, the Florida-based author of For the Love of Cities, is among several overseas speakers who will also address the conference.
