Inside the NRC - Iwi's $200,000 climate adaptation plan

LETTERBOX has obtained a Memo to NRC councillors dated 16 May 2025, "Te Uri o Hau funding proposal justification".

The purpose of the 8-page memo is to provide additional information about a $200,000 funding request from  Te Uri o Hau.

 Te Uri-o-Hau is a sub-iwi of Ngāti Whātua, based around the Kaipara Harbour. According to the 2018 New Zealand census, approximately 1,314 people affiliate with Te Uri-o-Hau. They received a Treaty of Waitangi settlement in 2002, formalised through the Te Uri o Hau Claims Settlement Act 2002, which included $15.6 million in land and cash, a 50-year Right of First Refusal for surplus Crown properties, and cultural redress like advisory roles in fisheries management. The trust also acts as an "iwi authority" under the Resource Management Act 1991 and supports community initiatives, such as the 2023 Census partnership with Stats NZ.

 The proposal being considered by the NRC is as follows:

NO CIRCULARS

A Parua Bay resident has asked us not to distribute the LETTERBOX to them, and politely stated that they are “not our target audience”.

I explained that while we write LETTERBOX, as a citizens' press, anyone is free to distribute it as they wish. I pointed out that, as a courtesy, we do ask those who distribute it to respect “no circulars” notices. They replied that they don't have such a notice on their letterbox.

I think it is useful to outline what is common practice regarding the delivery of flyers.

Download Letterbox - ready to home-print

Click... print... and distribute to letterboxes near you! 

Ready to home-print. The latest and previous issues of LETTERBOX. 

(Reminder - When distributing, please respect "no circulars notices")

Q & A with Bream Bay candidate Dave Baldwin

This continues our series of articles featuring candidates standing in the October local body elections.

Dave Baldwin is taking on two long-standing WDC councillors in the Bream Bay ward.  We spoke with Dave about his decision to stand for Council.

Letterbox question (Q): Why are you standing for council?

Dave Baldwin's answer (A):  Excessive rating and the 2025 Annual Plan review debacle brought me to this fight. The proposals this year were so outrageous that they should never have been released.

Are councils' Treaty partners?

 

An article appearing in the May issue of Local Government magazine, written by two lawyers specialising in local government law, says, No.

They say the decision issued by McQueen J [Hart v Marlborough District Council [2025] NZHC 47] “has confirmed the long-standing (but perhaps little-understood) legal position: councils are not directly subject to the Treaty and its principles because local authorities are not part of the Crown, and thus not party to the Treaty. The Courts, therefore, traditionally have not recognised local authorities as subject to a common law obligation under Article 2 of the Treaty.”

Sources: LGNZ article HERE >>> 

Inside the NRC - continued

Transformational change or a ratepayer handout?

Over the next 10 years the Northland Regional Council will “invest” $9.2 million of your money to build community capacity and drive transformational change.  They say:

“Building resilient communities is a priority for Northland Regional Council. It is central to Nga Taumata o te Moana, our strategy for tackling climate change, which aims to make Te Taitokerau more resilient and help our region transition proactively and equitably to a thriving net-zero emissions society before 2050.”

The first tranche of that funding has been awarded to 22 groups, totalling $600,000.  Examples of successful projects include:

Budget rates rebate

Budget 2025 introduced changes to the Rates Rebate Scheme in New Zealand, specifically targeting increased support for SuperGold cardholders. The key changes are: The maximum rebate has increased by $15 from $790 to $805, and the eligibility threshold for the maximum rebate has increased from $31,510 to $45,000. This means every SuperGold cardholder earning only New Zealand Superannuation with rates higher than $2,000 is eligible for the full rebate, while those earning above $45,000 may qualify for a smaller rebate.

$50k "Partnership" training - NRC

A 24-hour stay at a marae for 40 Northland Regional Council (NRC) managers has cost ratepayers just under $50,000. Part of the course was to instruct staff on the implementation of the council’s “Taike E” strategy towards full Maori “Partnership” by 2040. 

The NRC told LETTERBOX the “managers’ wananga”  was held at the Ngāiotonga Marae in Rawhiti, on the 5^th and 6^th of May.  They say, 

“The total cost was $49,434. The breakdown is $450 venue hire, $733.49 catering costs, $46,120.60 staff salaries/allowances, and $2,109.95 travel/mileage.”

Photo credit: Maori Maps

Departure costs Far North ratepayers

A stoush between the Far North District Council and its former Chief Executive, Blair King, has come at a high cost to its ratepayers. LETTERBOX has been provided with a breakdown of all costs incurred by the FNDC. They say:

“The legal costs incurred relating to employment proceedings amounted to $220,115.21. The costs relating to this matter incurred by elected members amounted to $533.88. The Settlement Agreement payment awarded to Mr King was $200,000. The cost of recruitment of the new CEO amounted to $57,426.33.”

New action group formed - something to CROW about

Concerned residents in Whangarei have combined to represent community concerns about the Whangarei District and Northland Regional councils. Concerned Residents Of Whangarei (CROW) founder Ian Melrose, says council spending and rating is the first issue they will be addressing. 

"The excessive rate increases from both councils are just not acceptable, and we are going to voice the concerns that many are expressing privately”. 

The group’s inaugural public meeting will be held on Saturday, the 21^st of June, 10.30am at the Old Library in Rust Ave, Whangarei. Everyone is welcome. 

Garrick Tremain - woke

 

Quotable quote

"And that is a quick and easy way to do politics. Incite fear. It's the oldest trick in the book, but it is the most harmful, and the most damaging... I wish so much that we can turn to those more optimistic, hopeful, and inclusive responses to problems rather than the fear that we see people reach to.” 

- Dame Jacinda Ardern talking to Oprah Winfrey about her new book, A Different Kind of Power.

Some are asking: Has Dame Jacinda had a lobotomy?

Stadium grandstanding

In the year ended June 2024, the Northland Events Centre (2021) Trust received an annual operating grant from the Whangarei District Council of $701,786 (2023: $662,786). Despite this grant, the Trust made an operating loss of $185,000, up from a loss of $45,000 the year before. The Annual Report says the lower numbers attending events is in part due to the closure of the Brynderwyns and “cost of living challenges” [like excessive rate increases!].

In the year to June 2024, the stadium hosted 14 major events  with a combined attendance of 45,795. Another 10,409 attended functions held in the lounges. Alarmingly, the cost to hold the events was more than the revenue generated.  

Readers write - who do I vote for?

 

Ray writes, “I enjoy reading your newsletters. I never know who to vote for in local elections and usually take a stab in ignorance… I would welcome your advice on who are the most effective people. The issues of main concern to me are: rate increases, ongoing money wasted on the Hundertwasser, Maori issues, and stopping wasteful spending of ratepayers' money!”

Readers write - responsibility not insensibility

 

Colin writes...

After the contents of the last newsletter, I had to knock out a suitable poem.