The government has signalled that it wishes to reform local government. In this article https://theconversation.com/a-major-overhaul-of-nzs-local-government-is-underway-will-it-really-fix-whats-broken-272424 it was reported: The proposal would abolish regional councils and replace … [Read more...]
Trouble is Rates Caps are great politics – but hopeless policy
I often disagree with the style, and comments, of Wayne Brown but his response to the government about their proposed cap on rates whilst wearing this cap reading a book “Surrounded by idiots” says it all. In this article the ramification of the crazy motives of this government are laid out … [Read more...]
CCHL and CE’s Salaries
Let us consider a bit of history. CCHL was formed when councils were required under the neo-liberal reforms to place their trading assets into companies. Most councils had trading companies and many of them sold their assets to honey tongued visitors offering them good prices. Christchurch swam … [Read more...]
Rate Caps – lets blame Local Government (again)
In an excellent article in the Press the summary of the very good CCC submission to the government on its proposed rates caps was in this article. The government proposal of linking rates increases to the CPI is just plain daft. The article wrote: The Government’s intention to use … [Read more...]
Amalgamation and Rates Caps
I’m not a big fan of Ecan. However, there are essential environmental responsibilities which Regional Councils perform so to talk about disbanding them with a sweep of the hand is just irresponsible. Instructing local mayors to come up with a solution is like asking pigs to start believing abattoirs … [Read more...]
Debate during election campaign and the ignoring of impending Amalgamation
The debates in the past few weeks leading up to the local elections have been deeply superficial. It frustrates me hearing the mayor just going on and on about road humps and cycleways. Sara Templeton has refuted his stupid comments on many topics including this, but he got the headline. As a … [Read more...]
Mary Richardson
When a new Council is sworn in one of their early decisions will be how to address how to appoint a new CE. Recent CE appointments have not showered the Council in honours. It was only when Mary Richardson stepped up to fill the role for a short period that the council started to settle … [Read more...]
Garry’s thoughts on The Local Body Elections
This year it’s the first time in 47 years I haven’t been involved in a local body election campaign. For years I was just a helper and door knocker for candidates, then as a candidate, then involved behind the scenes with people’s campaigns. Now I’m not. There are some candidates I support this … [Read more...]
Meet some of our New Council Candidates
Tuesday Club on Wednesday 10 September 5pm for 5.30 startBack room at Smash Palace It will be livestreamed on Facebook from 5.30 Hear from three new candidates for Christchurch City Council all standing with The Peoples Choice - Garry will interview them about why they are standing, and what … [Read more...]
Local Government being slammed by Central Government (again!)
It saddens me when Local Government (LG) is hammered publicly by Central Government (CG). Over the Local Government NZ (LGNZ) conference held in Christchurch last week (and, again let me object to Christchurch City Council resigning from LGNZ that was a dumb, no stupid, decision which should be … [Read more...]
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