When asked, who is driving the woke agenda within the council, he replied, “A group of seven who are working together: Deb Harding, Scott McKenzie, Nicholas Connop, Patrick Holmes, Phoenix Ruka, Carol Peters, and Ken Couper…Because we have that woke block at the top, every time it gets hard, they take the soft option.”
The union speaks for councils but in recent years has failed to represent the majority view of councils, Three Waters being an example. The fall-out is that several councils have withdrawn their membership (including Auckland, Christchurch, Kaipara). They say LGNZ is no longer a representative body and the annual membership fee does not represent value for money at a time when costs should be cut to minimise rate increases.
At a council meeting on the 23rd of May 2024, the WDC decided to remain a member. We have been told some councillors considered the amount of money involved was not significant enough to warrant review.
That is not the position the WDC has taken. Councillors have voted to remain a member, despite a substantial increase in the annual membership fee. We have been told most councillors thought the cost “was not enough to worry about”. Perhaps a householder can now say they don’t have to pay their rates because it is not enough for the council to worry about!