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Frank Newman: Councillor’s “you piss me off” rant against fellow councillor

A Whangarei District Councillor is now subject to multiple Code of Conduct complaints following an online “racist” rant directed at another councillor.

Cr Phoenix Ruka made the remarks about Cr Marie Olsen on Instagram on the 14th of November. He is one of two councillors representing the council’s Maori ward. He stood under a Maori Party affiliation and gained 889 votes (the least number of votes of any WDC councillor). Cr Olsen represents the general urban ward, gaining 3564 votes.

In the Instagram post Cr Ruka said,

SOLAR FIRM COLLAPSE

Taxpayers are likely to be the big losers following the collapse of SolarZero. SolarZero is thought to be the largest solar panel supplier in New Zealand with 15,000 customers. Earlier this year the company came in for criticism after running a door-to-door sales campaign in Whangarei. It offered no-money-up-front solar panel installations, instead charging a monthly subscription over a 25-year contract! Consumer NZ issued an advisory expressing caution.

Where the collapse leaves customers is unsure at this time, but the government will likely have to write off $115 million lent to the company. SolarZero was purchased by Blackrock in 2022 (Blackrock is the world’s largest asset manager with US$11 trillion under management). Some are now calling on Blackrock to repay the taxpayer money advanced to SolarZero.

COUNCILLOR FACING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS

The WDC has received multiple complaints about the conduct of one of its councillors. The Code of Conduct complaints relate to comments made by Cr Phoenix Ruka on social media and to a Maori news station.

Cr Ruka has accused councillor Marie Olsen of racism after she questioned the numbers attending the recent Maori Party organised Hikoi to Wellington, which Cr Ruka attended.

In an Instagram post directed at Cr Olsen, he said, “don’t expect any favours or niceties from me in council any more”.

COUNCIL FINANCES SLAMMED

A former councillor and finance committee chairman has expressed serious concerns about the state of Whangarei District Council finances.

Crichton Christie served on the Council for 11 terms, including time as the head of the council’s finance committee. He told LETTERBOX,

“The council’s finances have deteriorated in recent years. Total debt and rates have increased faster than the rate of inflation, which is now costing ratepayers dearly.

WDC U-TURN ON FLUORIDE

Last week the Whangarei District Council (WDC) voted 7-6 against adding fluoride to its water supply, despite a directive from the Ministry of Health to do so. By defying the order, the Council may face a fine of $200,000 and an additional $10,000 a day if it fails to fluoridate its water supply by the end of February 2025. The WDC is the first council to defy the directive.

The council resolution was: 

“to not add fluoride to the Whangarei District’s water supplies as required by the directive from the Ministry of Health (MOH)…This decision is based on recent court rulings and research that question the effectiveness, safety and legality of fluoridation…”

Those who voted for the motion were: Mayor Corcurullo, and Crs Benney, Golightly, Halse, Olsen, Reid, and Ruka (7).

Against were: Crs Connop, Couper, Holmes, McKenzie, Peters, and Yovich (6). Cr Harding abstained.