Tauranga Chamber of Commerce operations, events and training manager Anne Pankhurst said that with two days left 245 people had registered for the conference.
"All the mayors and a good number of councillors from across the Bay of Plenty [have registered]. This is really important for the political arm to hear how the community are thinking.
"The conference has been built around the community's view of local government, rather than the elected officials view of local government.
"Both have a different expectation of what reform can or may deliver."
Ms Pankhurst said delegates would have the opportunity to understand what local government reform meant and the significance of some of the legislation changes.
Comparisons would also be made to overseas governance models. "Finally, all of us - the community - have an opportunity to think about the future and if we are able to inform, or have a part in, what local government could look like for us all and what it could deliver," she said.
- The Daily Post council and city issues reporter Matthew Martin is heading to the conference.
If you have any questions you would like Matthew to ask email matthew.martin@dailypost.co.nz
