Readers write - sand mining in Bream Bay

A reader writes, “Has Letterbox asked our present mayor if he is for or against sand mining in Bream Bay. This matter has a very big following in Bream Bay.” 

After receiving your question, we contacted Mayor Cocurullo for his comment. 

Clear choice emerges - election 2025

Three issues have emerged as key election issues during the campaign: Rates, the role of councils, and co-governance. 

Two camps have emerged offering very different perspectives, and a clear choice for electors.

In one camp are those who want the council to focus on core infrastructure and keep rate increases to no more than the rate of inflation, either through a rate and debt cap or by undertaking a comprehensive review of costs to eliminate non-essential spending. Included in this camp are sitting councillors Marie Olsen, Simon Reid, Paul Yovich, and Jayne Golightly; and candidates like Susy Bretherton, Steve Martin, Paul Grace, Matt Yovich, Dave Baldwin, and Crichton Christie.

Time up for sitting NRC councillors?

 The Northland Regional Council (NRC) is in for a much-needed shakeup with three sitting councillors facing serious challenges from candidates with strong credentials.

The contestants in the Whangarei Central Constituency couldn’t be more different. Veteran greenie Jack Craw is being challenged by the fresh-faced and energetic Caroline Davis who is an ambulance paramedic and currently chairs the Whangarei Area Committee of St John.

Rick Stolwerk is being challenged by John Hunt who has a high profile in community sports and held senior leadership roles, and Greg Chalmers is presenting himself as the common sense alternative to sitting councillor and former DoC worker, Amy McDonald. 

The Craw, Stolwerk, McDonald trio are seen as instrumental in supporting NRC’s 36.2% rate increase in the last three years which has been used to fund community resilience projects for Maori and increase staff numbers which have risen 54% in the last five years. 

Maori wards - why are we having a referendum?

 Why? Because the WDC, NRC, and FNDC decided to change the voting system without allowing the public to have a say, and without the public having the right to veto their decision via a binding referendum! The Coalition government is putting that right by forcing all 42 councils that created Maori wards without the veto in place to hold a binding referendum so the public can exercise a fundamental democratic right that some councillors still fail to grasp. 

Maori wards - Keep or remove?

 Keep or remove? That is the question being put to voters.

Supporters see Maori wards as a step towards fulfilling council’s Treaty obligations, and ensuring Maori voices are included in local decision-making.

Opponents of Maori wards see them as undermining universal representation, divisive, or unnecessary.