hawkesbaycouncilwatch

After a difficult time running up to a hearing on water takes for Twyford producers, it is not surprising that growers have chosen to appeal the decision handed down by the Regional Council hearings committee.

This is actually a huge issue for Hawkes Bay and some of the affected growers claim that the council does not have the scientific backing to be able to reach the decision which cut off growers and drew a tenuous connection between depletion of the Ngaruroro and downstream users.

Following the sneaky attempt a year ago to create a company to remove the asset base from the direct eye of the public/ratepayer, the Regional Council is again seeking to pull the wool over ratepayer eyes with a further attempt at setting up a company with all councillors as directors and the ability to second other mates in to the fold.

This flawed plan will not be subject to the scrutiny it deserves as the average jo blo in the year following the election, is getting on with surviving the harsh economic conditions we are currently experiencing.

The spiel the RC has produced is astounding .The proposed setup would allow this company of an unusual mix of  councillors to carry out of all things the buying and selling of shares (equitys).

This is a shocking proposal and should be stopped in its tracks.

Many confused National and Act supporters are trumpeting the pathetic call from Don er Brash er to step out from behind his failed past political endeavours to ‘save’ the Act  Party with immediate elevation to the leadership.

This guy is a disaster.It’s time he retired to some coastal bach and enjoyed life.He should not be allowed anywhere near decision making in this country.

Brash you are not wanted!

There have been varied commentaries on the closure of the NZPA.

On the face of it it would appear to be a sad situation , an unfortunate move that would seriously affect the good coverage by media of events and politics in NZ.

It is in fact a blessing.The NZPA has developed as a hotbed of lefty,  biased , parroting journos, no thought,  no investigation and over the years this left wing bed of  reds has become entrenched like so many other media covets in this fine land.

It is  a pleasure to see the demise of this sorry lot but it would be too much to think that we would see an improvement in media coverage of politics in NZ now this event has shaken the piles.

Yet another fanfare.

Yet another name.

Yet another $2m of ratepayers money on the line.

With the demise of the wine industry drowning in an ocean of cheap wine ,the once lauded ‘hook’ for Hawkes Bay,founded by successful Sileni Winery owner Graeme Avery, has been binned ,emasculated, removed from the marketing name like a grape bunch from the vine.

Wither to now?

The change to ‘Hawkes Bay’ is one of desperation in these tough economic times and one that will not achieve  results.

It is infuriating to read of the claims of the multiplier effect from extorting money from ratepayers to employ staff to promote tourism.

Our primary industries have huge multiplier effects and some like the huge horticultural industry in Hawkes Bay along with farming,have been treated like lepers.This is where the real base of the economy lies .

Why is it the word subsidy is still bandied about as an abhorrence connected with farming as in the eighties but it is OK to extract millions from ratepayers to subsidise motelliers and a host of other tourism related industries for their so-called multiplier effect.

A levy on tourism related businesses is  what is required.

The print media in Hawkes Bay stumbles on its merry way with a huge turnover in journos who appear to know nothing about Hawkes Bay and a surprising turnover in Editors, assistant editors,administrators while all the time HB Today sends its accounts out from Auckland.

The latest editorial repeats the papers mantra about one council for Hawkes Bay.This line has been taught to all and sundry in the paper and is like a worn out record.

It must be a prerequisite to being employed in the local print media that you repeat one council as in primary school rote learning.

How pathetic.

The best thing to boost Hawkes Bay would be for the ratepayers to elect some new forward thinking,fresh,non lefty councillors who can get councils out of peoples lives and recognise the regions strong points instead of pursuing stupid, failed policies that will drag Hawkes Bay backwards.

One only has to look at Auckland and the loony super council there to learn what not to pursue.

A great con job.

The National Government have set about creating a major course of destruction with the introduction of the most appalling piece of legislation.

This is the tidal wave that will send  real kiwis on a wave to being second rate citizens and they will not know what has hit them.

The Minister Finlayson ,champion for Maori causes ,has to be the worst MP to ever sit on the National front bench.Indeed the worst National MP ever.

To foist this legislation on kiwis is a betrayal of generations of kiwis who have built this country into what it is and is another nail in the coffin leading to the loss of  democracy in NZ.

Strength to all those trying to stop the introduction of this  shocking legislation.

Hastings District valuations are out and the results show a major distortion that is going to penalise horticultural properties.

For some strange reason because the Irongate area was  designated as industrial from horticultural this has caused a massive increase in the value of horticultural properties .

This is nonsensical and serves to penalise the producers yet again.

Never a fan of Don Brash but he seems to be the only one who has the guts to tell it like it is with the Treaty of Waitangi.

The left wing media attack him in their biased way but many kiwis   nod their heads in agreement.

His latest Orewa speech is correct in outlining concerns for the future of this country if race based  seats are allowed to continue.The country is already in decline economically and racially and the Nats don’t

get it.

For local government the writing is on the wall with race based decisions about to be foisted on ratepayers. Special Maori representation is  devisive and unnecessary.How long will it take before there is a groundswell of opposition to this rot.?

We have a big struggle coming up very soon and it is not going to be nice.

It is a sad weekend indeed.

The explosion in the Pike River mine on the West Coast brings us all down to earth.

Our thoughts are with the miners that are trapped and their families waiting for news.