The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has released a Guide for central government engagement with local government.

The guide focus is on providing central government officials with context for engagement with local government. It also includes information about central government decision-making processes that will be useful for local government.

A foreword by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern states that the guidance recognises that one size does not fit all when it comes to engagement between local and central government.

"What works in one situation with one local authority as a policy issue emerges, may be different for other local authorities, or at different stages of the policy process," Ms Ardern says.