·
It would damage their
relationship with local hapu.
·
Is inconsistent
with the Principles of the Treaty, and the council's “obligations to maintain,
improve and facilitate opportunities for Maori to contribute to local authority
decision-making”.
Councillors Olsen and Yovich asked for their vote
against the submission to be noted.
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!
Those against the increase were Phil Halse, Marie Olsen, Simon
Reid, Phoenix Ruka, and Paul Yovich.
Despite pleas from the public to cut costs instead of increasing rates, councillors added new spending items! That included an additional $960,000 over two years for the Whangarei Art Museum which manages the Hundertwasser.
This is despite assurances when the project was first proposed that no additional ratepayer funding would be required. Councillors appear to have taken the easy way out of the Hundertwasser’s financial problems, and that is to put their hands deeper into ratepayer pockets.
It has been reported that Northland Development Corporation Ltd has applied for consent via the Fast-Track Approvals process, with funding being sourced from the government’s new Regional Infrastructure Fund. The Fast-Track Approvals Act is expected to be passed into law shortly.
Whangarei Mayor, Vince Cocurullo, has said the $11 million the council had committed in conditional funding was no longer available. Given some councillors had previously supported ratepayer funding for the project, the full council needs to make a final declaration confirming no ratepayer funding will be provided for the Oruku landing project.
“The total cost…is $104,605+GST. This cost includes design fees, fabrication, installation, foundations, lighting, and power supply. This work was required as part of a landscaping resource consent condition for the roundabout project.”
The 40 or so
local councils who introduced Māori Wards after Nanaia Mahuta removed the
petition right, must either disestablish the Māori wards or hold a binding
referendum at the time of next year’s local body elections (12 October).
A motion to
disestablish Māori wards must be passed by the 6th of September this
year.
If a referendum is held, and a majority of electors vote “No" then their Māori ward(s) would be disestablished at the 2028 local body election.
29 May 2024
Committee
Secretariat
Justice Committee
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
Dear Sir,
Thank you for providing the opportunity to submit on the
Local
Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies)
Amendment Bill.
We would like to be heard
in person.
This submission is on behalf of the Democracy Northland (DN), which was established by John Bain, a former deputy chairman of the Northland Regional Council.
In November 2020 DN initiated petitions pursuant to Section 19ZB of the Local Electoral Act 2001 for three local councils in Northland. They are the Northland Regional Council (NRC), Whangarei District Council (WDC) and the Kaipara District Council (KDC). Each had resolved to introduce Māori wards without prior consultation with the community.
On the 6th of May five councillors signed a letter requisitioning a meeting to replace Crawford. The matter was to be put at the 28 May council meeting but a motion to withdraw the agenda item was moved by Cr Marty Robinson at the start of the meeting. That motion was supported by seven of the nine councillors. Tui Shortland and Peter-Lucas Jones abstained.
Media supports indicate the back-down followed the intervention of MP Shane Jones, who had contacted councillors before the meeting to express his concerns about the instability a leadership change would create. It is also understood that the Local Government minister, Simeon Brown, had been keeping a close eye on the situation.
Email: info@democracynorthland.co.nz
