Fiona Mackenzie: Councils Hasten To Embed Tribal Control

…before 2025’s local body elections, Māori ward referenda, RMA reform, or the Coalition Government gets off its chuff!

The Coalition Government talks about refocusing councils on their core responsibilities. Yet it—like governments before it—has actively encouraged “partnership” arrangements between local government and tribes. While Wellington pretends to stand back, councils across New Zealand are committing constitutional fraud.

Nick Clark: Rate hikes and reforms force councils into tough decisions

New Zealand ratepayers are being mugged by reality.

After a 12 percent rates increase last year, dozens of councils are imposing another round of double-digit hikes. Yet the pipes still leak, the roads still crumble, and the bills keep climbing. Some councils are spending more and hiking rates just to stand still. The sector faces unprecedented fiscal pressure, and ratepayers are running out of patience.

This is not business as usual.

John MacDonald: Free speech rules shouldn't stop at universities

Here’s how I would sum up the Government’s changes to the free speech rules for universities.

It wants more Posie Parkers and less posey political statements.

Which I’ve got no problem with - but I don’t think it should stop at universities. I think the Government also needs to look at other public entities, such as local councils, which actually seem to be making more posey political statements than universities.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: I'm not getting excited about the money spent on that dance competition

Look, I hate wasteful spending as much as you do, but yeah, I'm just not getting that excited about the money that's been spent on that dance competition.

I just don't think that the comparisons between the money that was put into that and the nonsense that councils get up to are fair. I mean, that is certainly what the Taxpayers Union is trying to say.

Guy C. Charlton: There is a ceiling on rate increases

There is a ceiling on rate increases. It’s time to look for alternatives to local government funding

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s recent unsuccessful demand to have the central government repay the GST levied on property rates is the latest salvo in the battle over funding for local government in New Zealand.

It points to the topsy-turvy state of local government finance and the inability of central government to address local government financial and public policy concerns.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: The Government has restored democracy to councils around Māori wards

A little bit of good news- The Government is restoring democracy to councils around the issue of Māori wards.

The Government's made the announcement this afternoon that the rules are going back to the way they were. If a council wants to set up a Māori ward, ratepayers will again have the option to petition and force a referendum and potentially, if they want to, overturn that plan altogether.

Mike's Minute: This is why we hate councils

This is why we hate councils.

On December 15th last year we received a letter from our local outfit claiming that the bore we have is not official, it has not been signed off and we have 28 days to rectify it.

This coming so close to Christmas is not good news and requires a level of attention that makes a mad part of the year even madder.