Fireworks are in, but councils cannot buy farms or set greenhouse gas emission targets. These are among the changes in the Government's "Better Local Government" shake-up which aims to focus councils on their traditional roles and curb soaring rates and debt levels.
Announcing the package of reforms, Local Government Minister Dr Nick Smith scrapped the sweeping changes of 2002 that broadened councils' role to the "social, economic, cultural and environmental" well-being of their communities.
Councils will now have a new purpose of "providing good-quality local infrastructure, public services and regulatory functions at the least possible costs to households and business".
What type of services should local councils be allowed to provide? Here is the latest selection of Your Views:
