That means within the next three years the average ratepayer will be paying about $1,000 more than they are today. For those renting, that means a $20 increase in rent a week.
The Mayor says the Council “cannot cost save our way out of this”.
17.2% RATES INCREASE!
GARRICK TREMAIN CARTOON - Otago University
Grant Robertson retires from Parliament; is appointed vice-chancellor of Otago University.
HUNDERTWASSER TROUBLES
In the first four months of operation, the HAC had 37,000 visitors. That dropped to just 19,800 in the latter half of 2023. This had a direct effect on admission fees and gift shop revenue. The revenue from entry fees did not even cover the staff costs which are forecast to be $1m for the full year.
The total operating loss in the six months to 31 December 2023 was $765,000. That shortfall has been partly covered by drawing down $500,000 from a $2 million contingency fund created to support the trust during its first 10 years. $500,000 was drawn down previously and $750,000 “dissolved” after a guarantee provided by the Ngātiwai Trust was forfeited by the Whangarei District Council in a behind-closed-door meeting in August 2023. Only $250,000 of that $2 million fund remains after just two years.
BALLOONING COUNCIL DEBT
Five years ago the total debt was $224 million. That’s a 52% increase over five years. Half of that increase in debt can be attributed to the construction of the Council's new office building, Te Iwitahi.
TE IWITAHI OR WHITE ELEPHANT?
The final cost of the new council building (“Te Iwitahi”) in Rust Avenue is $61 million. Of this, $7.6m was paid to consultants.
When the building was first proposed in June 2018 the projected cost was $37 million. A year later that had increased to $38 million.
By February 2020 the estimate had grown to $48 million and the size had increased from 5500 square metres to 7000 square metres to accommodate up to 470 staff, including space to be leased to NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi on commercial terms.
Investigating Covid - Have your say
The review was initiated by the Labour government but has been criticised for being too narrowly focused. The coalition agreement between National and NZ First addressed that concern by expanding the terms of the inquiry. The public is now being asked to have a say on what the terms of reference should be.
An issue hardly talked about in the mainstream media is the research by Dr John Gibson from Waikato University which concludes “excess” deaths post-Covid are about four percent higher than expected. He says accurate health and economic data are needed to evaluate policy responses to the pandemic. Surely, having a foundation of reliable data is fundamental to an inquiry if it is to produce worthwhile recommendations. If there are excess deaths, then the inquiry has some questions to answer.
Greens Want Control of Local Councils
She promised, “to help get more Green-aligned people into local government positions next year”.
Swarbrick’s comments are a useful reminder that radical elements target local council elections and will be doing so again next year.
The best defence against radicals taking over our local councils is for the public to say “No” to extremism, and support candidates who are prepared to represent the public rather than use the position of privilege to impose their ideology upon others.
The Power of One "NO"
The Real Estate Authority has reversed
its decision to make te reo Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi training compulsory
for real estate agents. The course will now become optional for those
completing their annual continuing education requirements.
The about-face comes after Auckland
real estate agent Janet Dixon refused to undertake the course and was told by
the Authority that her licence would be cancelled for five years if she did not
do so. We understand Janet has been “let go” by the real estate firm she worked
for.
Rather than cave in, Janet engaged lawyers to initiate a judicial review of the Authority's decision and has gained the backing of Hobson’s Pledge who is fundraising to cover the legal costs.
Quotable quote
"Truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it. Ignorance may deride it. Malice may distort it. But there it is." - WINSTON CHURCHILL
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