Article: Candidate promises to focus on rates reform

Source Diane McCarthy PDF

REAL Rates Reform is upon us and the way to get is to make it an election issue in 2026

You can stand on the sideline and rubbish the idea, or you can roll up your sleeves and support the campaign to bring real relief to unaffordable rates.

Who’s side are . . . → Read More: Article: Candidate promises to focus on rates reform

Opinion: Real reform required, not tinkering

Source Dave Stewart PDF

I feel I must respond to Keith Melville’s latest letter “GST refund not the answer” (Beacon, September 24).

Mr Melville has been vocal in claiming he wants the council to offer ratepayers a better deal but supports only candidates who offer very little in the way of substance.

Nationally, the local . . . → Read More: Opinion: Real reform required, not tinkering

Article: Govt unveils $70m fund to lure global acts, support major events

Source 1News PDF

While the National led coalition government is busy telling local councils how to spend money, they’re spending $70 million doing exactly what they’re telling councils not to.

The Government has announced a $70 million investment package aimed at supercharging New Zealand’s events and tourism sectors, introducing new money to attract global . . . → Read More: Article: Govt unveils $70m fund to lure global acts, support major events

Article: Former PM Sir Geoffrey Palmer’s stark warning about NZ’s democracy

A central criticism he made of New Zealand was the erosion of Parliamentary processes by successive governments – particularly the use of urgency for passing legislation, by which normal processes scrutinising bills are skipped. “If you want to process a great deal of legislation, the Parliament’s not sitting enough to deal with it,” said Palmer, noting that drafting legislation effectively was time-consuming and difficult. . . . → Read More: Article: Former PM Sir Geoffrey Palmer’s stark warning about NZ’s democracy

Article: Wastewater still an election issue for Matatā

Source Diane McCarthy PDF

OVERSEERS: MC Rob Meharry and timekeeper Murray Orr at the Matatā Residents Association Meet the Candidates event.

The support amongst the Matatā community for a sewerage scheme was loud and clear at a Meet the Candidates event organised by Matatā Residents’ Association.

The Matatā Rugby Club was filled to . . . → Read More: Article: Wastewater still an election issue for Matatā

Whakatāne District Council Profile Statement & Video: Make Whakatāne A Happy Place

I was invited by the Whakatāne District Council to record a video and submit a profile statement for the Local Body Election.

I was pretty careful how I wrote the Profile Statement but I chose to do the video 'off the cuff' and not prepare for it and just answer the questions direct from my . . . → Read More: Whakatāne District Council Profile Statement & Video: Make Whakatāne A Happy Place

Opinion: What the heck is happening with rates?

Rates are going through the roof and people are struggling. Even so, I’m going to say something that most mayoral candidates won’t admit. Rates are going to keep going up and anyone who promises that they can stop that happening is lying to you. The Government would sack the council and install commissioners if we did what it would take to stop rates increasing. . . . → Read More: Opinion: What the heck is happening with rates?

Article: List of core services ‘bizarre’ – Tanczos

Source

Whakatāne district councillors have expressed surprise that cemeteries, public toilets, animal control, liquor licences and consents are not considered core services for councils by the Government.

“This is bizarre,” councillor Nandor Tanczos said.

“The (Coalition Government’s) list of core services doesn’t include a whole bunch of functions that the Government itself requires that . . . → Read More: Article: List of core services ‘bizarre’ – Tanczos

Don’t Vote For Wellington – Vote For Whakatāne

National’s hidden agenda was unaffordable rates. And now we are having to address it. National’s supporters in this campaign here in Whakatāne are telling us to pay for National’s $440 million water alternatives we must sell our publicly owned assets and privatise everything that moves. This means we will pay the same of higher rates, and then pay again for the services our rates used to cover. . . . → Read More: Don’t Vote For Wellington – Vote For Whakatāne

Let’s reimagine the future of urban life — one city, one community, one happy place at a time.

Let’s reimagine the future of urban life — one city, one community, one happy place at a time. . . . → Read More: Let’s reimagine the future of urban life — one city, one community, one happy place at a time.