Anyone but Ken

 

It is not often LETTERBOX agrees with WDC Cr Ken Couper, but we do agree with what he said in his election blurb in the Bream Bay News recently:

“The message from our community is clear: rate increases must be affordable, fair and justifiable.”

This certainly is the message the community is giving and has been giving for some time. The difficulty we have is reconciling Ken’s words with his voting record.  In 2024 Ken voted for a 10.9% rate increase and another 17.2% increase in 2025. This is despite 87% of the public who submitted to the 2025 Annual Plan opposing the increase. Most suggested 6% was affordable, fair, and justifiable.

The voting record does not lie

The voting record does not lie. 

Eleven of the 14 elected representatives on the WDC are seeking re-election. We are astounded by the disconnect between the election promises being made by some candidates and their voting record.  Actions speak louder than election waffle, so LETTERBOX has tabulated the way the mayor and councillors have voted on critical decisions.

Cr Ken Couper - voting record

 

HOW THEY VOTED

Cr Ken Couper(Bream Bay Ward)

How they voted - 17.2% rate increase - WDC

 

Council votes to increase general rates by 17.2% for the year ended 30 June 2025. 

The motion: 

"That council approves increasing general rates by 17.2% for 2024-25. 

Approves increasing the targeted rates for 2024-25: 

        a. wastewater rates by 2.9%; 

        b. water rates by 5.4%; 

        c. flood protection rates by 4.9%."  

(Extraordinary Whangarei District Council Meeting Minutes Date: Wednesday, 29 May, 2024)

How they voted - $565,000 to host a NZ Warriors game - WDC

Council votes to spend $565,000 to host a NZ Warriors game! 

The motion: "That Council approves operating expenses funding of $350,000 in year 1 and $215,000 in year 2 of the Long Term Plan to provide an opportunity for Council to exclusively host an NRL game featuring the NZ Warriors in 2025 at the Northland Events Centre." (Extraordinary Whangarei District Council Meeting Minutes Date: Wednesday, 29 May, 2024)

Cr Phoenix Ruka - voting record

HOW THEY VOTED

Cr Phoenix Ruka (Maori Ward)

Cr Carol Peters - voting record

HOW THEY VOTED

Cr Carol Peters (Urban Ward)

Cr Scott McKenzie - voting record

HOW THEY VOTED

Cr Scott McKenzie (Hikurangi-Coastal Ward)

Cr Patrick Holmes - voting record

HOW THEY VOTED

Cr Patrick Holmes (Whangarei Heads Ward)

Cr Deborah Harding - voting record

HOW THEY VOTED

Cr Deborah Harding (Maori Ward)

Cr Phil Halse - voting record

HOW THEY VOTED

Cr Phil Halse (Bream Bay Ward)

Cr Nicholas Connop - Voting record

HOW THEY VOTED

Cr Nicholas Connop (Urban Ward)

Cr Gavin Benney - Voting record

HOW THEY VOTED

Cr Gavin Benney (Hikurangi-Coastal Ward)

Cr Paul Yovich - voting record

HOW THEY VOTED

Cr Paul Yovich

AGAINST the motion: "That Council approves $480,000 operating expenses funding in year 2 and $480,000 operating expenses in year 3 of the Long Term Plan to the Whangarei Art Trust, which is additional funding to the existing operating grant. 
(Extraordinary Whangarei District Council Meeting Minutes Date: Wednesday, 29 May, 2024) 
NOTE: The Whangarei Art Trust manages the Hundertwasser Art Centre and the Whangarei Art Museum 

AGAINST the motion: 

"That council approves increasing general rates by 17.2% for 2024-25."  
(Extraordinary Whangarei District Council Meeting Minutes Date: Wednesday, 29 May, 2024)

Cr Smon Reid - Voting record

 HOW THEY VOTED

Cr Simon Reid 

AGAINST the motion: "That Council approves $480,000 operating expenses funding in year 2 and $480,000 operating expenses in year 3 of the Long Term Plan to the Whangarei Art Trust, which is additional funding to the existing operating grant." 
(Extraordinary Whangarei District Council Meeting Minutes Date: Wednesday, 29 May, 2024) 
The Whangarei Art Trust manages the Hundertwasser Art Centre and the Whangarei Art Museum 

AGAINST the motion: "That council approves increasing general rates by 17.2% for 2024-25."  
(Extraordinary Whangarei District Council Meeting Minutes Date: Wednesday, 29 May, 2024)

FOR: Council spending $565,000 to host a NZ Warriors game. The motion: "That Council approves operating expenses funding of $350,000 in year 1 and $215,000 in year 2 of the Long Term Plan to provide an opportunity for Council to exclusively host an NRL game featuring the NZ Warriors in 2025 at the Northland Events Centre." 
(Extraordinary Whangarei District Council Meeting Minutes Date: Wednesday, 29 May, 2024)

Cr Marie Olsen - voting record

HOW THEY VOTED

 Cr Marie Olsen 

AGAINST the motion: "That Council approves $480,000 operating expenses funding in year 2 and $480,000 operating expenses in year 3 of the Long Term Plan to the Whangarei Art Trust, which is additional funding to the existing operating grant." 
(Extraordinary Whangarei District Council Meeting Minutes Date: Wednesday, 29 May, 2024) 
The Whangarei Art Trust manages the Hundertwasser Art Centre and the Whangarei Art Museum 

AGAINST the motion: "That council approves increasing general rates by 17.2% for 2024-25."  
(Extraordinary Whangarei District Council Meeting Minutes Date: Wednesday, 29 May, 2024)

Mayor Vince Cocurullo - voting record

 

Mayor Vince Cocurullo

How they voted

How they voted - STV voting - WDC

That the Council;

1. Revokes the following resolution from the Whangarei District Council meeting on 24 August 2023:

“That the Council pursuant to Section 27 of the Local Electoral Act 2001, resolves to change to the Single Transferable Voting system for the 2025 and 2028 triennial elections.”;

2. And resolves: Pursuant to Section 27 of the Local Electoral Act 2001, to retain the First Past the Post electoral system for the 2025 triennial election; and

3. Pursuant to Section 31 of the Local Electoral Act 2001, to undertake a binding poll of electors on the electoral system to be used for the 2028 and 2031 triennial elections, such a poll to be held in conjunction with the next Whangarei District Council triennial election (11 October 2025) to reduce the costs associated with the holding of a poll.

How they voted - excluding the public from code of conduct complaints - WDC

That the Council:

Resolves that the updated 2023 Elected Member Code of Conduct excludes the public from directly making a complaint under the Code. (Thursday, 24 August, 2023)

How they voted - Treaty of Waitangi and Code of Conduct - WDC

That the Council:

1. Resolves that the updated 2023 Elected Member Code of Conduct includes reference to the principles of Te Tiriti in clause 3 of the Code. (Thursday, 24 August, 2023)