The Local Government Minister's being urged to reform the sector - to give mayors more power

The New Zealand Initiative has released a report, saying the answer to issues in Local Government could be solved if power was delegated away from officers and to councillors and mayors.

Senior fellow Nick Clark says if elected members had more power to do what they campaigned on, voters would take more of an interest.

He says it could also encourage better people to run for councils if they knew they could make real change.