Category: LDR

Source: Radio New Zealand

When Te Papamārearea (Taupō Māori ward) councillors Ngahuia Foreman and Wahine Murch swore their official oaths last year, they knew their first term would be their last.

The same election that brought them into council chambers included a referendum in which more than 9000 voters voted to get rid of the Māori ward.

It’s something Foreman says now applies to all Taupō councillors. Wellington this week issued an edict requiring councils to tell them which of them should stay and which should go.

“This ‘proposal’ actually means all of us no longer have a seat,” Foreman said.

Councillors all over the country have expressed their concerns that reducing the amount of local councils could reduce local voices.

Fellow Māori ward councillor Murch put it simply, “Nobody understands representation like the under-represented.”

While she was speaking of Māori under-representation, there are concerns her statement could apply to all of Taupō district in the future.

Taupō councillor: ‘I won’t miss it so much’

Duncan Campbell is in his second term as a Taupō ward councillor. The Auckland native was a senior traffic engineer for Waitakere City Council when it merged into the Auckland Super City in 2010.

Having taken part in the largest local government amalgamation in New Zealand history, Campbell sees great potential in a bigger Taupō council, but warns: “Bigger is not always better; the devil will be in the detail and based on the Auckland example, some wheels will inevitably fall off.”

Like Foreman, Duncan sees Wellington’s call for change as curtain call for his council.

“I foresee in a year or two’s time there will be no more Taupō District Council, and I won’t miss it so much.”

Murch and Foreman say function over form is their priority. Both of them want effective representation for their constituents in whatever council replaces their own.

Keeping local government local

Councils have three months to work together and present Wellington with their proposals on how local government will look and operate in the future.

Central government has already stated its preference; it wants local government to go large.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts explained: “Proposals should focus on creating larger, more efficient unitary authorities that streamline functions, reduce duplication and improve decision-making.”

Campbell remembers being in the thick of it during the Auckland supercity merger.

“On Auckland Super City: big promises and big expectations, but a quite a few disappointments all round,” Campbell said.

“The purported efficiency gains of reduced staff numbers were only temporary. Local community influence was lessened, and the bureaucrats in Auckland Council and Auckland Transport gained the upper hand.”

Staying connected with constituents

Murch said contributing to Taupō’s proposal to Wellington would be her top priority.

“These next three months are going to be critical,” Murch said.

“I think what we really need to do, and I’m not speaking for the council, but for myself as an individual elected member, is really wrap our heads around what is being proposed here and then try to position ourselves.”

During her election campaign Foreman became well-known for her old-school style of campaigning. Her lack of online presence sparked a blog entry that asked, “Is she even running?”

Despite being called a “total ghost” in that blog, Foreman won, replacing incumbent councillor Danny Loughlin by 15 votes.

Foreman said her first priority was communicating with her constituents about Wellington’s orders.

“Physically calling and catching up with people in person is my main priority right now,” Foreman said.

“Just to canvas do they know the situation and how urgent it’s going to be. If we’re not in the room to have these conversations, we’re going to miss the boat.”

– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A homeless woman’s dog impounded during a police and council operation has been put down despite public offers to pay for his registration.

Tauranga City Council acknowledged there were offers but claimed the dog’s owner did not provide other registration details, and the dog was too aggressive to be rehomed.

Marley, a 10-year-old male hunting dog, was one of two dogs impounded due to being unregistered during the 13 April operation targeting people living in cars at Sulphur Point.

The council said this followed complaints about antisocial behaviour, illegal vehicles and dogs; as well as months of warnings.

Marley was living in a car with his owner, Samantha Bradley.

She and her liaison, Animal Justice Party Aotearoa NZ general secretary Danette Wereta, learned late last month that the council’s animal services team euthanised Marley on 23 April, 10 days after he was impounded.

In her role as a liaison for Bradley, Wereta said she contacted the council shortly after the impoundment and confirmed funds were available to pay all required fees.

She said she struggled to get the council to recognise her as an authorised liaison, but after repeated requests, animal services agreed to contact Bradley on 29 April.

“Shortly thereafter, Sam phoned me in severe distress, saying she had just been told that Marley had been killed.”

Wereta said the council then contacted her and told her authorisation had been received, and that Marley had been euthanised on 23 April because he had not been registered within seven days.

“I had confirmed multiple times that funds were available to pay all fees as soon as authorisation was formally acknowledged, something that was delayed solely by the pound’s obstacles.”

Wereta said she was told Marley had been deemed “vicious” and failed a temperament test.

She said there was “lots of online footage showing how social Marley is”.

Wereta has made an official information request seeking detailed information about the process the council took before euthanising Marley, “despite clear ongoing communication”.

She said she had also lodged a formal complaint.

“It is deeply upsetting that Marley ultimately lost [his] life due to human communication failures and procedural barriers.

“We should have been looking at the system and saying, ‘How do we use it to support Sam?'”

Supporter Victoria O’Sullivan said she was among those who offered to pay Marley’s registration.

“From Sam’s Facebook posts … I can see that he is very well-cared for.”

Bradley said in a public Facebook livestream on 5 May that she was “never going to register the dog”.

She acknowledged people offered to help with the fee, but said it was “irrelevant” because other local homeless people did not get the same offer.

Bradley said Marley was social and often played with children, and she questioned how he failed the temperament test.

She said she was seeking legal advice.

‘Exceptionally aggressive’

Tauranga City Council said in an unattributed statement that the Animal Services team approached the matter with care and compassion, and plenty of time was given to look at other options.

The council said Bradley and Marley became known to the team after repeated complaints about dogs at Sulphur Point.

It said dog owners there were given many opportunities to register their dogs.

“Marley had not been registered for around nine years.”

The council said when Marley was seized using a search warrant, a written notice was left explaining why he was taken, and that if he was not claimed and fees paid within seven days, the council could lawfully rehome, sell, euthanise, or otherwise dispose of the dog.

The council confirmed it received several offers from the public willing to help pay the outstanding fees.

“While these offers were well-intentioned, we could not accept them without the necessary information from Samantha to legally register the dog.”

The council said Bradley declined to provide that information or have Marley registered to someone else.

“She acknowledged the possibility that the dog could be rehomed or euthanised.”

Once the seven-day legal holding period had passed, animal services assessed if he could be safely adopted, but found he was unsuitable because he had “an exceptionally aggressive temperament”.

“After careful consideration, the decision was made to humanely euthanise Marley.”

The council said the decision was reviewed and carried out in line with the law, council policy and standard procedures.

“It was not a decision taken lightly.”

It said the public and government expected councils to use the Dog Control Act to manage aggressive dogs and ongoing non‑compliance, while also considering animal welfare and public safety.

“Balancing our enforcement responsibilities with compassion is something we take extremely seriously.”

It acknowledged the outcome would be “very upsetting for many people”.

The council said the animal services officers cared deeply about animal welfare and understood people’s emotional connection to their pets.

They encouraged dog owners experiencing hardship to contact the council early, and the team would try to find solutions.

The council did not respond to questions about what happened to the other dog taken in the 13 April operation, a puppy named Max.

Donations for registrations

Organisations working with homeless people in Tauranga have suggested anyone wanting to help can donate to the Community Vet Charitable Trust.

The trust was set up to provide animal care – vaccinations, desexing, flea and worm treatments – for people experiencing housing insecurity or financial hardship.

Under The Stars volunteer Ani Stace said the organisation worked with the trust, which recently started funding dog registrations.

“We respect that that is what the council requires. People should register their dogs.”

Stace said the trust received $700 of donations within the first 48 hours of asking its supporters.

Awhina House co-chairwoman Angela Wallace said this initiative was “a great outcome of this awful situation”.

Donations could help avoid pets being removed from homeless owners.

Wallace said a woman worried her two dogs would be taken after hearing Bradley’s story had received help to get them registered.

“It must be quite a lonely situation being homeless – having an animal, a companion animal, can offer a level of comfort,” she said.

A dog could also help with personal safety, especially for women.

– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Bay View lifestyle block owner says he feels as if he is being forced from his land by another proposal by Napier City Council to increase his rates.

Robert Best lives with his wife in their Onehunga Rd home, which was zoned as ‘rural residential’.

The road had a distinctive country character, with no footpaths, cycleways, or street lighting.

Power lines rise on the side of the road, and there’s a 70 kmph speed limit down the length of it.

But the council, as part of its annual plan, was proposing to change Best’s property – and 1582 other properties within the council’s boundaries – to ‘residential’.

If the proposal to remove the ‘rural residential’ rates category goes ahead, Best estimates they’ll be paying a 16 percent increase this year, instead of the forecast average 8.8 percent increase the council flagged earlier this year.

“That would bring my total rate hike for the past three years to 47 percent,” he said.

“It’s just like you are forced off the land, when you shouldn’t be forced off the land.”

A council spokesperson said its goal was to make its rates fairer.

In 2021, the council introduced ‘rural residential’ as a transitional ratepayer category in response to feedback from residents.

“At that time, it was agreed to consult in future on whether to use land value or capital value as a basis for rating properties, and that the ‘rural residential’ ratepayer category would also be considered then.”

They said elected members had assessed the benefits rural residential properties received, and believed the proposal was a “fairer” way to split the costs.

“Some ratepayers will pay more than the average increase of 8.8% and some less,” they said.

Best said his home didn’t get the “perks” of ratepayers inside Napier urban boundaries, such as streetlights and footpaths, so he shouldn’t have to pay to subsidise them.

A council spokesperson said streetlights, footpaths, cycleways, libraries and pools throughout the city were used by all Napier residents, whether they were rural or urban, and whether those things were outside their own properties or not.

The spokesperson said its total rates consisted of several separate charges.

Each charge was calculated differently, and differentials (weightings) were applied to each ratepayer category.

“For example, commercial ratepayers pay 2.6 times more than residential ratepayers.

“Targeted rates are applied to a property if it receives or benefits from a service.

“Rural residential ratepayers don’t pay the sewerage, rubbish, or recycling targeted rates if they don’t receive these services and this will not change with the removal of the rural residential differential.”

The council spokesperson said one of the biggest changes proposed this year was its transportation rate charges, which paid for roading, road safety interventions, footpaths, and cycleways.

“In the past, these have been included in the general rate and calculated by land value. The proposal is to split the transportation portion out from the general rate and change the way this is calculated to capital value.

“This means properties with higher capital value will see greater increases than properties with a lower capital value.”

Best, a retired business owner, says he’s on a fixed income, “and I know we won’t be the only ones, so where do we get the money from?”

He said he couldn’t borrow money at his age, so “we’ve just got to cut costs again”.

He said the council needed to cut its own costs.

“I’ve been in business all my life, and if I was the CEO of Napier City Council, I’d be calling every head of department into the office and saying, ‘right, you’ve got a month to come back and I want a 10 percent decrease in your spending. If you haven’t, we’ll find someone else that will do it’.

“That’s what they’ve got to do, but they won’t.”

Best has also questioned the council’s rating of his water use.

He was classed as an ‘extraordinary’ water user, along with commercial, industrial, construction and agricultural users.

“We are connected to town water and are grateful for that.

“But we pay a fixed rate and then if we use more than the allocated amount, we are billed for metered water.”

The council spokesperson said lifestyle properties were classified as “extraordinary users” under Napier City Council’s Water Supply Bylaw 2022 because they had the potential to use water beyond typical domestic needs.

“The bylaw does not quantify or require proof of higher usage. It is a risk-based classification to manage potential demand and protect the network.”

Best said when they first moved to Bay View nine years ago, rates were affordable but “man, it’s changed”.

He said he wants the council to leave them alone.

He has submitted to the Annual Plan and put his name down to speak at the council’s submissions hearing.

The council has received more than 300 submissions, which the spokesperson says will be considered before any final decision is made.

A spokesperson for Hastings District Council said there were no changes proposed to its rural-residential rating differentials this year.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Whangārei’s $32m Te Matau a Pohe bascule bridge is to be closed for repairs after the discovery of cracks inside its distinctive fishhook shaped structures.

The cracks need urgent repairs to prevent damage to the structure.

Te Matau a Pohe, which is New Zealand’s only rolling bascule bridge and one of fewer than a dozen of its type in the world, opened in July 2013.

Since then it has lifted more than 25,000 times for boats making their way along the lower Hātea River, just upstream from where it meets Whangārei Harbour. About 50,000 boats have crossed underneath heading between the Whangārei Town Basin and the harbour.

The cracks have been found in welding inside the steel hook beams.

Whangārei ratepayers paid about $17 million towards the bridge’s construction, in conjunction with NZTA Waka Kotahi.

The bridge’s two distinctive giant white curved shapes are almost 20m tall and represent Māori fishhooks, reflecting local traditions of fishing, navigation, and the cultural relationship with Whangārei Harbour.

Te Matau a Pohe is one of Whangārei’s most visible landmarks.

There are around 4 million vehicle movements over it each year. That’s about 11,000 daily, around 40 percent more than the 8000 it was originally designed for.

Te Matau a Pohe will be closed for 24 hours to do repairs, from 6am Sunday 10 May at to Monday 11 May.

Its fishooks are the main structural arms of the bridge’s rolling bascule (lifting) mechanism. They allow the bridge deck to roll back and lift for boats.

They which each weigh 360 tonnes, their moving arms making the rolling motion possible and stable.

A 25 metre section of the bridge opens to let boats through. The opening road section rolls backward and upward along a curved track whilst the fishhook‑shaped beams roll with it, their 67‑tonne counterweights moving in the opposite direction to keep the system balanced.

Te Matau a Pohe and Dave Culham Drive will be closed to vehicles and boats – but pedestrians will be able to walk the bridge’s footpaths unless there is an emergency.

Repair backup dates have been scheduled for 17 May and 24 May.

Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper said the cracks had developed in internal welds over time.

“The need for these repairs was identified during a routine structural inspection and the recommendation was to carry them out promptly to avoid any future damage or disruption,” Couper said.

Repairs to the welds were being done to ensure the structure’s long-term durability.

He said the welds had not failed or come apart.

In a council communication forwarded to boaties, the need for the weld repairs was described as urgent.

Whangarei Marina has advised boaties who might want to cross under the bridge during its closure to make alternative arrangements.

Those who needed access under the bridge during that time could possibly be accommodated at the new Okara Marina, downstream of Te Matau a Pohe.

Dave Culham Drive will be closed from Port Road to Riverside Drive – with detours via Riverside Drive and Dent Street.

Te Matau ā Pohe was designed by UK bridge specialists Knight Architects, in collaboration with New Zealand engineers Peters & Cheung (now Novare Design) and others, for Whangārei District Council.

The bridge has won more than a dozen national and international awards including the transport infrastructure award and then supreme engineering excellence award at the 2014 New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards.

Te Matau ā Pohe means “the fishhook of Pohe”, referring to Pohe, the rangatira who welcomed early European settlers to the Whangārei area.

Cracks in internal welds are taken seriously because they occur in high‑stress areas, a known fatigue issue in large steel bridges and can usually be monitored and repaired long before safety is compromised.

The way cracks in bridge steel are dealt with depends on crack size and length, whether they are growing and whether they affect primary load-carrying parts of the bridge such as its main beams, supports, and connecting pieces.

In large steel bridges, weld cracks are typically repaired once they reach a few centimetres in length, show signs of growth, or occur in critical load‑bearing locations.

Repairs are usually triggered by crack growth or location, rather than waiting for large visible damage.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Canterbury’s regional council says it is continuing to address coastal protection rules, but conservationists say it is not acting fast enough.

Environment Canterbury says a review of the Canterbury Regional Coastal Environment Plan is ongoing, despite the government’s halt on planning work.

But Forest & Bird and Greenpeace want action now to protect wildlife and biodiversity.

The plan was adopted in 2005 to promote the sustainable management of Canterbury’s coastline.

The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement was subsequently introduced in 2010.

ECan councillor Genevieve Robinson has been advocating for the regional coastal plan to be updated for several years.

Her notice of motion two years ago led to councillors calling for aspects of the plan to be reviewed last year.

But the coastal environmental has been forced to take a back seat as the council faces pressures from reform and rates capping, Robinson said.

“We are still obligated to look after the coast and our Mana Whenua partners want us to look after the coast.

Forest & Bird Canterbury / West Coast regional conservation manager Nicky Snoyink said the council could not use the government’s planning pause as an excuse.

“Recent incidents including boat groundings, oil spills, and dolphin deaths are clear warning signs that Canterbury’s marine environment needs stronger planning, monitoring and enforcement, urgently.”

Greenpeace oceans campaigner Juan Parada said “a robust and fit for purpose” regional plan was urgently needed.

“We’ve seen how centralised control has prioritised private profit over ocean health.

“An updated plan would allow for precautionary management that reflects the care Canterbury residents have for their coast, ensuring we protect species like the Hector’s dolphin or hoiho (yellow-eye penguins).”

ECan acting regional planning manager Lisa Jenkins said the council is continuing to review coastal plan, which will feed into a Combined Regional Plan for Canterbury

She said the council’s 2024/34 Long Plan Plan had anticipated a plan change being notified later this year.

“While there are some limited exemption pathways through the ‘plan stop’, it is unlikely a coastal plan change would meet the criteria for an exemption, other than to manage a specific natural hazard.”

Under the proposed legislation, a Combined Regional Plan would need to be in place by 2029.

It will include a regional spatial chapter, natural environment and land use chapters, and will incorporate district and regional plan functions, Jenkins said.

The existing coastal plan applies to the entire coastal marine area from Kekerengu, north of Kaikōura, to Waitaki, and out to 12 nautical miles.

It also addresses sea level rise and climate change by directing development away from areas prone to erosion and coastal flooding.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Gisborne is a step closer to taking control of regional waste, but some district councillors expressed “discomfort” over the process.

Councillors voted on a preferred site for developing the regional Refuse Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre at a council meeting on Thursday.

The 275 Lytton Road site was the recommended option in the council report and “the strongest” according to technical and financial assessments.

However, a mana whenua group, Te Kuri a Tuatai Marae, opposed the site, which was close to their marae.

Confirming the preferred site allows council staff to move into the next planning stages, involving a detailed concept design, cost refinement and a business case.

Māori ward councillor Nick Tupara said the council had not been “the best neighbour” to Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāwhiri and Te Whānau a Iwi for some time.

Te Kurī ā Tuatai Marae representatives expressed concerns about the site’s proximity and its visual impacts and prospects of noise, odour and increased traffic, potential effects on the Waikanae Awa, and the wider historical context of waste management in the area, according to the council’s meeting report.

There were ongoing legacy matters on environmental remediation, such as the former Paokahu landfill, which had “influenced perspectives”.

“A key message from marae representatives was: ‘Why address new waste infrastructure when historic waste impacts remain unresolved?'” the report reads.

Tupara voted against the report, along with Māori ward councillors Rhonda Tibble and Anne Huriwai, and general ward councillors Debbie Gregory and Samuel Gibson.

Gregory said the report was “bittersweet” to read. It was her “dream” to see the facility realised.

“I hate to delay anything as cool as this, but in my heart I can’t say yes at this point.”

Both Tibble and Gibson said they felt the “discomfort” in their “puku”.

Delaying the project would result in foregone savings estimated at $1.5 million to $3.2m per year, which would increase over time, the report reads.

“Previous analysis identified an estimated $8.7m capital cost advantage compared with a new Greenfield facility, with further modelling confirming ongoing system‑wide benefits from council ownership.”

Gisborne’s current supply chain for waste creates “market inefficiencies, increased costs, and poor sustainability incentives”, a presentation slide read.

Residents pay $527 per tonne of general waste disposal at the Gisborne Refuse Transfer Station, compared with the national average of $220-$430 p/t.

The cost to the region is estimated to be $12m per year and was forecast to be $16m per year by 2033.

Mayor Rehette Stoltz and Māori ward councillor Rawinia Parata “hesitantly” and “tentatively” supported the paper, and deputy mayor Aubrey Ria said it had caused her much “āmaimai” (anxiety).

Stoltz said she had seen the council go “above and beyond” the Treaty compass to make sure it was not a transitional relationship.

“If we decide today to move this forward, we will do better, and we will keep the door open to focus on improving that relationship.”

Parata said she was interested in the pathways of improving, beautifying and supporting the surrounding areas.

As part of the next phase of work, the council would prioritise a governance-led “best neighbour” approach, according to the council report.

This included environmental protection and enhancement beyond minimum compliance, and design and operational controls that would minimise noise, odour, litter, traffic and visual effects.

Ria said her vote of support did not “predetermine” her decision that the final confirmation of the site was “set in stone”.

She was “willing to take the risk of the further expense” and hoped for “some progression in [council’s] kōrero with hapū and marae”.

She asked whether the transfer station would also go out for consultation with the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan, which had been adopted for consultation at the meeting.

Chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann confirmed that the council would “use the same channels to get the information out at the same time”.

Councillor Larry Foster said he was “totally happy” to move the report, which councillor Alexander Boros seconded.

He was sure most of the community would support the decision.

“To have a facility that we can totally recycle and utilise our waste is absolutely awesome.”

Chief adviser of Māori partnerships Gene Takurua said he did not want to “challenge or disrespect” the position of marae, hapū and iwi, but did not think the council got to engage or discuss “the real kaupapa” and “opportunity at hand”.

This was because of the legacy issues that continued to impact the surrounding area, Rongowhakaata iwi and the hapū concerned.

Opportunity was provided for the marae and Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust to “sit as equal partners” and be recognised for time, effort and contribution.

“Hand on heart, I feel that we certainly aligned with our Treaty requirements and responsibilities in terms of our attempts.”

The council report states that further sites had been explored; these sites either could not support future growth, recycling and recovery initiatives, posed significantly higher operational costs, or were not suitable for the Regional Resource Centre.

The Lytton Road site was the only site within council ownership that could be progressed without significant delays, rework or additional land acquisition.

The site options were 75 Innes Street (status quo), 275 Lytton Road and a greenfields site in the vicinity of Gisborne City.

The recommended option voted on by councillors meant the council would continue to “actively invite mana whenua engagement, including opportunities to participate in design refinement, environmental enhancement, monitoring and ongoing dialogue”.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

It will be more expensive to travel on Wellington’s public transport later this year.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council voted on Thursday to hike Metlink’s base fare by 3.1 percent and slash the off-peak discount from 30 percent to 20 percent but the changes will start only after contactless payments using debit and credit cards are activated on the Snapper system.

Both dates are yet to be confirmed: Metlink officials said at Thursday’s council meeting contactless payments would start “mid to early April” and it would be up to six weeks afterwards when fares would change.

That means for a passenger commuting between suburbs such as Karori, Khandallah, Lyall Bay and the city centre, rush-hour fares are going up from $4.53 to $4.67, but off-peak fares rise from $3.17 to $3.74. Those paying contactless are charged an extra 1.5 percent card fee.

Papers from Thursday’s meeting estimated that as things stands, Metlink’s fare revenue this financial year would be about $3 million lower than budgeted, but officials said that number could still change.

It blamed a combination of factors: the number of train passengers continued to fall, while “socio-economic changes” like flexible work arrangements, slower economic recovery and unemployment contributed to an emerging decline in bus passenger numbers.

Councillors were divided on how much to increase the base fare and the timing of the rise, which was slated originally for July.

Council chairperson Daran Ponter’s amendment brought it forward by a few months to soften any financial difficulty.

“We could exhaust all of our transport reserves as a consequence of stuff that is happening on the network right now,” he said. “It means we’ve got no buffer in the next financial year when many of these things could still continue to play out.”

Ros Connelly, the chairperson of the regional council’s public transport committee, said the 3.1 percent increase was the limit between prudent economic management and what the public could afford. She also wanted any hikes to happen in July.

Councillor Adrienne Staples was in favour of a 4.1 percent base fare increase to take pressure off ratepayers. “While my personal preference in an ideal world would be to have free public transport across our whole region. It’s not where we work at the moment. We cannot afford to keep going out the back door.”

Last year, Metlink increased its fares by 2.2 percent and dropped the off-peak discount from 50 percent to 30 percent.

Thursday’s meeting papers also revealed this financial year’s fares and advertising income would likely make up less than the targeted 25.1 percent of Metlink’s total revenue, with the next year’s target set at 25.7 percent.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) laid new expectations for all public transport providers in 2024 to have fares and advertising income make up a specific proportion of its revenue.

NZTA’s target for Metlink was once at 42 percent, a figure that regional councillors said it would need to hike fares by as much as 70 percent to hit.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

One of the Wellington region’s longest-serving politicians and best-known environmentalists has announced she will retire from politics later this year.

Green Party list MP and former Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown announced her retirement today, saying she would not be contesting the November election.

“Having served as a Green city councillor for fourteen years, two terms as mayor, and a Green Party list MP, I will continue to strongly support the Green Party,” she said.

“Serving as a member of Parliament for the Green Party has been a privilege. However, as one of the oldest MPs in this Parliament – and the oldest woman MP, I am looking forward to fewer midnight debates under anti-democratic urgency.”

She would continue her current Parliamentary role until the election, and support whoever the Green Party chose as its Wairarapa candidate.

“It has been a great experience being an MP based in Wairarapa and getting to know the area,” she said.

“I really love the Wairarapa. I will continue to enjoy the region, as we are staying here.”

She ha- been an MP since January 2024, served as Wellington mayor from 2010 until 2016, and was a Wellington councillor for 14 years before that.

She stood as a list MP in 1999 (the first MMP election), 2005, 2020 and 2023.

She would continue until the election as Green Party associate spokesperson on conservation (predator free), and its spokesperson on democracy and electoral reform, digitising government, and tourism and hospitality.

Her local government portfolio would pass to Mike Davidson, who ha- experience in local government, having served as a councillor in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick in a statement praised Wade-Brown’s contribution.

“Celia has given many decades to improving outcomes for Wellingtonians and te taiao as part of the Green Party. She is a champion for a sustainable living in local and central government. We respect Celia’s decision to step away from national politics at the end of this term. We expect she will continue to contribute to the Green Party, our shared values, and to bringing about a better world in whatever roles she chooses.”

Carterton-based Wade-Brown had been involved in local predator control and tourism initiatives like the Wairarapa walking festival.

While she had no current plans for her post-Parliament life, she was open to possibilities.

“I am standing down from politics, we will see what happens after November,” she said.

“If there are other opportunities that fit I could be interested.”

She expected her current Wairarapa predator control work would continue, as well as knowledge sharing around conservation issues, and involvement in the walking festival.

“Beyond the election, I will continue to protect native habitat in the Wairarapa against rats, stoats, deer, and possums.

“I’m also going to be doing pack-rafting, cycling, tramping and things that don’t fit easily into a Parliamentary schedule.

“And, most exciting, in 2025 I became a grandmother.”

She would have a full schedule in Parliament up until November.

“In 2026, I will continue to speak up for people, te tiriti, and nature.

“With support from back-benchers across most parties, I hope to progress my domestic cat microchipping members bill.”

Highlights of Wade-Brown’s Wellington local government career included helping turn the Capital into an award-winning centre for urban diversity.

She and her council helped introduce the Predator Free Wellington initiative, targeting rats, stoats and other predators. They also helped Zealandia become financially and environmentally sustainable, and enabled Wellington Zoo to become an environmental leader.

She had put cycling on Wellington’s agenda, with the city now considered Asia-Pacific’s third best for getting around by bike.

Under Wade-Brown the city was also the first to introduce a bylaw requiring cat registration, an initiative she hoped to help take nationwide.

She praised her colleagues.

“The talent within the Green Party staff, elected representatives in local and central government, branch members, and networks is immense.”

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A small forest fire outside Masterton on Tuesday highlighted the increased risk of forest fires in the region.

Although the Bideford blaze was quickly extinguished, Wairarapa’s mostly dry summers and significant forestry industry have some worried.

However, the region’s biggest forestry firm said it was well prepared.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand community risk manager Phil Soal said many of the forest fires across Wairarapa this month had been started accidentally.

“Over the last month crews have attended a number of callouts after fires have reignited from old burn piles.”

Late last year, at a workshop on climate change organised for the Carterton, Masterton and South Wairarapa district councils, an attendee said he was concerned about possible forest fires.

“We sit out in the country. A lot of us have neighbouring forests – a lot of people are surrounded by forests.”

He said if there were a forest fire, it was possible that the water in farmers’ dams could be used.

“Fires generally occur in summer, so therefore that farmer – relying on the dam for stock water – is he going to say no and then be a party to probably letting the forest fire go and endanger lives?”

Soal agreed it was possible farm dams could be used in a fire emergency, but this was one of many possible water sources.

Fire and Emergency NZ crews would source water from “any sufficient open water supply”, he said.

“Depending on the location of the incident, firefighting water supplies will be taken from a number of places including lakes, rivers, water tankers, oceans and swimming pools. Water could also be taken from farmers’ dams.

“Initially, water supplies will come from our fire trucks and water tankers until a sufficient water supply is established.”

Juken ‘constantly reviewing’ fire dams

Sean McBride is the chief forest officer at Juken New Zealand (JNL), a forestry company that manages 15,000 hectares of forest plantations across Wairarapa.

He said the company had thousands of litres of its own water as well as other firefighting equipment.

Forest owners took their responsibility regarding wildfire risk very seriously, he said, and JNL has an emergency response plan that gets updated annually.

“JNL has installed a number of 1 million-plus litre, lined fire dams at strategic locations throughout our forest estate,” he said.

“These are accessible to both fire appliances and helicopters … We are constantly reviewing the coverage our fire dams give and will be considering new installations in an ongoing basis.

“JNL has invested significantly over our 35-year history in the Wairarapa and have two of our own fire appliances based at our fire station at Waingawa.

“We also have 6km of fire hose, 11 fire pumps, one slip-on unit, access to heavy machinery – bulldozers and excavators – and approximately 50 trained firefighters within our staff and contract workforce.

“JNL management staff are also trained to be able to participate in various roles in an incident management team at any forest fire event.”

He said more than 98 percent of wildfires occurred as a result of human activity.

“If we can implement best practice to reduce the risk of ignition then the impact of wildfire on rural communities is significantly reduced.”

JNL’s plan included forest maps with water source locations, emergency and resource contacts, and response plans scaled to the level of risk.

The plan included wildfire guidelines that complied with the New Zealand Forest Owners Association’s forest fire risk management advice.

Permits needed in restricted season

Soal said Wairarapa was currently in a restricted fire season and he encouraged people to be extra vigilant.

He said property owners needed a permit to light an open-air fire.

“Physically check any burn piles from the last few weeks are fully extinguished. If in doubt, put more water on it to make sure it’s fully extinguished ahead of these extreme conditions.”

People in doubt about smoke or a fire should always call 111.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

About 100 people crowded into the Whakatāne District Council chambers on Wednesday in a show of support for the restoration of Ōhope Beach’s iconic West End walkway.

A second meeting room with video and audio links to the chambers was opened to accommodate supporters of Austin Oliver and Angus Robson’s proposal to allow volunteers to restore the track.

Four years after the section of Ngā Tapuwae o Toi walkway between Otarawairere Bay and, West End, Ōhope, was closed by slips, the track around a steep, rocky point providing one of two access points to the secluded Otarawairere Bay remains closed.

Mr Oliver and Mr Robson told Local Democracy Reporting they had been in communication with the council for about a year with their proposal, which they estimated to cost about a tenth of the $451,000 the council has been allocated through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund for the track’s repair.

“What we are getting is officers of the council saying volunteers can’t do it because of health and safety,” Mr Robson said.

They asked the council not to allow liability fears to be a handbrake to community projects.

“Angus and I have been blown away by the amount of support we have received from the community,” Mr Oliver said.

“We wish to work with the council to resolve this issue in a safe and practical manner.”

Mr Robson said the council’s concerns had set him off into a “major deep dive” into why community projects throughout New Zealand were being knocked back on health and safety grounds.

“What I have learnt is that if we follow health and safety protocols there’s no more risk to the council than if contractors did the work. We should be encouraged to do it because the rates saving is so huge and the community engagement is so positive.”

Rangitaiki ward councillor Gavin Dennis agreed community groups should be partnering with council to improve the district, but referenced the charges laid against helicopter pilot Mark Law by WorkSafe after he flew out to Whakaari during the 2019 eruption to rescue people on the island.

“I agree with you about what it says here in the law that you can’t eliminate all risks, but it wont stop WorkSafe going after you like a rabid dog, will it?”

Mr Robson had spoken at length to Worksafe and some of the country’s top health and safety lawyers over the past few weeks.

“I think everyone learnt something from the Whakaari [eruption], including WorkSafe.

“I doubt very much that you will ever see a shotgun approach like you saw there.”

Mr Robson said he had spoken to people from the Department of Conservation, which had managed to navigate the use of volunteers to maintain its tracks when it could no longer afford to carry out the work itself.

“So there’s no reason our council shouldn’t navigate it as well.”

He presented a petition yesterday signed by 500 people supporting their proposal.

“Not because we could only get 500 people, but because they were the first 500 people we approached. So far we have received almost 100 percent community support.”

Many of those people had ticked a box on the petition offering help with the project, whether it was through giving money, physically helping or providing expertise.

“We’ve got all the skills and all the money and all the will in the world.”

Mr Oliver acknowledged Ngāti Awa as tangata whenua and Ngāti Hokopu as mana whenua of the area during his presentation.

Māori ward councillor Toni Boynton also acknowledged the the area where the track is located, Kāpū te Rangi, as being of great significance to Māori as “the site of the ancient pa of Toi … one of the cradles of Māori civilisation”.

Mayor Nandor Tanczos said the council would make a decision in the new year when it had engineering reports and various associated reports presented to council.

“Those reports will then be released to the public.”

The council’s community experience general manager Alexandra Pickles said it had not ruled out involvement from volunteers in reinstating the walkway. However, the work involved complex landslip remediation in a high-risk area and the council had health and safety obligations to ensure any work was done properly and safely, regardless of whether it is carried out by contractors or volunteers.

“If volunteers wish to be considered as part of the solution, they will need to go through the standard procurement process alongside other options once the council determines its preferred reinstatement approach.”

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand