hawkesbaycouncilwatch

Reflecting on the election, there was talk and always is talk about whether a party wins the election or the incumbent loses.
New Zealand has seen many instances of parties losing rather than winning , more so under first past the post, but perhaps the 2008 election  was an example of National benefiting at the expense of a wayward Labour led coalition.

This then raises the issue of mandate.Does the new Government have a mandate to do what they like or should they proceed cautiously especially in areas in which they lack a depth of knowledge.
It is easy with new found power to lash out and destroy situations that  ‘ don’t fit’ only to find further down the track extremely negative  consequences.

National is in danger,especially with yellow jacket Rodney, of over zealous reactions in their enthusiasm for change. 

Getting back to mandate,  it is easy to misread electoral response as a mandate for anything.Voters only get one chance in three years and may even vote on one or two issues.A healthy need for change does not give representatives carte blanche for implementation of pet projects or to screw up working examples.
Representatives must represent not dictate.
 

Meerkat scouts inform me there was a meeting in Napier last week to try and extract some funding from Napier and the RC to toss into the RSP.
Hastings are on a hiding to nowhere over this one.
The timing is poor with the economy about to take a dive and people struggling to survive.

It is to be hoped that the leaders of those bodys were resolute in the response. A big NO!!

The Deputy Mayor is right. Hastings just can,t grasp the fact that they do not need to pay for some advertising guru , at some cost, to come up with a name to market the city.
The only one who has it right is Cr Watkins who can see where the wealth of the city emerges.
The name that was so effective and captured the countrys people who new Hastings as …….The Fruit Bowl of New Zealand.
Simplen ,effective and true. 

Hastings District Council have put out a strategic planning document to help move into the next 10 years.
It is scattered with ideas that are really issues for the regional council and some have already been dealt with in a full fashion in the past.
HDC just do not want to recognise the role of the RC and keep spreading their tentacles instead of sticking to their own business.
The duplication of services is a no no but that does not seem to be understood. Ratepayers do notice however and note the waste of resources.

The Regional Council has come up with a plan (discussion document) for the public to digest the implications for emmissions from our home fires so that they can give some direction to council.

The two environmental watchdog councillors find emmissions no problem.What.?
The green members on the council have no issue with pm10. This is astounding. What on earth are they there for.Have they seen the light? The pm10?

One greeny wants to get rid of a council who has funding to look after the environment and then two vote against a green paper!!!!

An Aussie in charge.
Not necessarily a bad thing.It is hopefully a good move to have a fresh face writing the editorials of HB Today.
The new editor will not be tainted by the partisan stance of others that have been involved in covering local activities and an outsiders view will be welcome.
All we ask for is a balanced coverage of issues and a presentation of facts,not distortions of facts.
It will be a tough job with the internet so prominent in our lives today.

Local Authorities will be watching with interest as the new Government settles in.
Councils around NZ have been getting carried away with their role since the gifting of a power of general competence was endowed upon them by the Labour Govt.
The new National Government will most likely give things a shake up although I hope someone like Nick Smith is not allowed to follow through on some of his personal dislikes.It is one reason that Nick Smith should not have the portfolio.We shall see.
If there are changes to the RMA tghis will have a big impact on the way councils operate and there will be some soul searching already with an indication that consents have to be dealt with in 90 days.
This is better than using the act for repeated requests for further information that costs applicants a fortune and prevents officers from doing what they should do –make a decision.
At present it is more like playing a game.