Ridiculous stories of 'progress' in Auckland

(Source: articles and letters in The NZ Herald)

14th September, 2007

Ratepayers pay to fix neighbours' houses

Auckland ratepayers face a 'leaky homes' bill as high as $360 million. The Government has refused to accept any liability for the leaky homes crisis.

Ratepayers to pay neighbours' mortgages

Lucky modest-income earners will be able to buy a first home for only three-quarters of its value under a new scheme to be funded by Auckland City Council ratepayers.

Bus ownership questioned

Despite an 89 per cent increase in bus subsidies since 2004, from $45 million to $85.1m, Auckland bus patronage increased only 1.2 per cent. Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee wants "to study the feasibility fo a small publicly-owned bus company."

13th September, 2007

Leap of faith

Auckland transport planners hope to place an order for about 40 electric trains as early as next year, despite a lack of secure funding.

Money well spent?

Auckland Regional Council (ARC) despairs as buses collect subsidies but few passengers. ARC chairman Mike Lee says, "It's like pumping blood into the patient and getting the odd twitch."

Standing for what?

A small band of Citizens and Ratepayers aspirants [for Auckland City Council] have attacked their own councillors' support for tearing up red-chip footpaths in heritage suburbs such as Ponsonby.

No cash for Eden Park

Auckland City mayoral candidate John Banks' election vow: No cash for Eden Park.

(Source: article in The Independent Financial Review)

5th September, 2007

Rein in rates

Rates are for fixing footpaths, not financing rugby and soccer games, writes the paper's Wellington bureau chief Bob Edlin. ...It is not so obvious there is public endorsement of Auckland City Council's plans for the 2011 Rugby World Cup...ratepayers were up for between $50 million and $60m.

Even more contentious, the Wellington City Council is spending ratepayers' money on a venture to bring soccer star David Beckham to play at the Westpac Stadium....The recent, 277-page report, Funding Local Government, reports the findings of the indepenednet inquiry into local government rates launched by the government in November 2006 at a time when there was a storm of controversy over local government funding.

(Source: articles and letters in The NZ Herald)

5th September, 2007

Serial mayor vs cereal mayor

Staff journalist Bernard Orsman reports: "If [Auckland City mayoral aspirant John] Bank's fresh menu convinces voters, cereal [mayor and cereal-maker Dick Hubbard] could be gone by lunchtime."

Who is best airport manager?

How is it beneficial for New Zealand to have a Canadian Pension Plan running the Auckland airport rather than a company with expertise in airport management? writes Daniel Hurley of Blcokhouse Bay.

4th September, 2007

Billboards come, billboards go

Auckland City Councillor Glenda Fryer who was at the vanguard of a campaign to ban billboards in Auckland has moved swiftly to remove an election hoarding labelled 'hypocritical' by her neighbours.

Airport offers both acheive control

Manukau City mayor Sir Barry Curtis backs the Canadians' latest Auckland airport bid but has drawn a negative response from leader of United Future, Winston Peters.

Infratil's Paul Ridley-Smith said the difference between Dubai Aerospace wanting 51 per cent ownership of Auckland International Airport Ltd and the Canadian Pension Plan wanting 49 per cent changes absolutely nothing as it will achieve control.

Consent stoush

Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee writes: "The court found the Rodney District Council did make fundamental legal errors in issuing the resource (building) consent to Parihoa Farms [at Bethels Beach]", but nevertheless upheld the consent that the ARC opposed.

3rd September, 2007

Airport shares non negotiable

Auckland City Council is to lock away its airport shares.

Backdown after protests

The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) has bowed to protests from rural landowners. Nearly 20 months ago farmers and lifestyle block owners in the Auckland region were shocked to learn their properties had become 'outstanding natural landscapes' in an overhaul of the ARC's regional planning policy statement. Alarmed farmers said this would require them to get resource consents to put up a fence.

Scrapping over funding shares

"Roll on Royal Commission of Inquiry "[into Auckland's governance] says NZ Herald columnist Brian Rudman, as the Auckland City Council and Auckland Regional Council start scrapping over each other's contributions to staging the 2011 Rugby World Cup. "True to form Auckland's politicians have taken the bait and are doing what they do best: scrapping over how to divide up Auckland's share of the cost".

And....eight per cent of Auckland Regional Council's rates pay for 'regional leadership and community development'. This relates to '"the government (wanting) the region's eight councils to work more co-operatively." The ARC "will build an integrated decision making framework for the long term sustainable, social, environmental and cultural wellbeing of the region."

1st September, 2007

Questionable Cup funding

Ratepayers are up for $50-60 million in the World Cup plan. Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee said that for Auckland City Council to hold everyone to ransom over demands for an equal sum from his council was "schoolground local politics".

Leaks persist

Councils still fail the leaky building test. Only Palmerston North is accredited as competent to check construction.

Cheaper trees please

Has the Auckland City Council gone complelety ga-ga, paying $8800 each for Nikau palms? asks CC of Orakei.

One tree please

Why should Treaty of Waitangi settlements hold up the planting of one tree on top of One Tree Hill? asks GD of Browns Bay.

31st August, 2007

Rates forecast to soar

Three years' rate rises are tipped to top 37 per cent in total. Property and water rates in Auckland City are forecast to soar 37.3 per cent and 30 per cent respecitively over the next three years if October's local body elections do not force changes to policies.

Auckland City rates highest

The recent Rates Inquiry found Aucklanders paid almost 40 per cent above the national average in rates. Auckland City's were 70 per cent above the average.

Big decisions are for Government

The Rodney District Council steps aside from the gas-fired power station ruling saying it's a job for the Government. Staff Genesis' application would be heard by a panel of independent commissioners who would present recommendations to the council based on their findings. Mayor John Law urged councillors to "have the guts to make a decision rather than let someone else make it."

Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) chief executive Alasdair Thompson agreed and said the councillors' decisions to seek a ministerial 'call in' was more appropriate for something on a much bigger scale, with much more of a controversial flow-on effect.

Nikau not suitable

PE Belsham of Mt Albert writes questioning the suitability of Nikau palms for Queen St in Auckland City's CBD.

Rates hope dashed

Barry Wood of Howick writes: "Our hopes that the rating inquiry would come up with a better system of sharing the (rates) burden have been dashed."

Laughable consent practice

Martin Goldfinch of Bethels Beach cristices Auckland Regional Council (ARC) for challenging a consent [from Rodney District Council] for a house at Muriwai. He says he attended the court where the ARC challenged the consent and the ARC was, in effect, laughed out of court.

30th August, 2007

Icon for Auckland

The (new) Nikau palms gracing Queen St in Auckland's CBD have cost ratepayers $454,000 and are 'giving a sense of the new $43.5 million Queen St'.

No icon for Auckland

'No Tree' Hill's wait [for a tree on the summit of One Tree Hill] is likely to drag on amid settlement delays.

New idea for council funding

Mayoral aspirant Alex Swney calls for 1 per cent of GST to go to councils.

Old idea for council funding

The NZ Herald editorial states: "The revenue source most favoured by local bodies (is) a share of national taxation...thi sself-serving suggestion (is) always heard from councils when their rates are under attack. It is most important that those who spend public money should raise it.

"Councils are fond of blaming their rising expenditure on new functions supposedly forced upon them by the Government. The (recent Rates Inquiry) panel has scotched this claim, pointing out that nearly all the extra tasks involve inspection and consent services for which costs can be, and are, largely recovered in user charges," the editorial says.

29th August, 2007

Inquiry finds council spending excessive

The local government rates take is more than necessary, concludes the Government's Rates Inquiry Review. The inquiry into skyrocketing homeowners' bills criticises council spending practices.

The rates inquiry team makes 96 recommendations!

Nationally, rates have increased 38 per cent more than inflation in the past 12 years.

Both the Resource Management and Building Acts are blamed for increases in council staff levels.

The rates inquiry finds Aucklanders paid almost 40 per cent above the national average in rates, and business pays more (proportionally) than households.

The forecast rates increases in the Auckland region are unsustainable, says the rates inquiry.

Auckland City Council has put up rates 21.3 per cent in the past three years.

Land veto upsets mayor

In an unprecedented move, the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) has rejected part of Manukau City Council's application to extend urban limits. The ARC is trying to stop business development on land near Auckland International Airport. It's a bizarre decision, said Manuaku mayor Sir Barry Curtis.

Govt could stop leaks

The Government and its flawed building legislation is at the top of the leaky housing chain, writes R Jordan.

28th August, 2007

Spoiling our heritage

An Auckland couple are moving to another country after a four-year battle to gain a building consent left them feeling short-changed - they say their application cost them $100,000. Auckland City councilllors say the decision will help protect the heritage of inner city suburbs.

Spoiling our chances
Auckland City Council mayoral candidate Dr John Hinchcliff says he was advised to withdraw from the race by Labour Party figures who did not want him splitting the centre-left vote and damaging [incumbent] Dick Hubbard's chances. PM Helen Clark says she knows nothing about this.
27th August, 2007
Non consenting adults
The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) fails to quash a consent granted by Rodney District Council for a 641sq m house at Bethells Beach on which the owners had spent $470,000. The judge commented: "The ARC's case has been over-resourced, to say the least."
The property owners said the ARC acted in a despicable way, and estimated the legal costs for them and ratepayers would total $1 million.

23rd August, 2007
Appealing to voters
Tit-for-tat over Boobs on Bikes parade as public vote with their feet - and cameras - amid a slanging match among Auckland City Council mayoral rivals Dick Hubbard, Steve Crow and Alex Swney.
Reigning cats
"There are lots of stories about dangerous dogs, but what can I do about a rogue cat?" writes Brent Scott. Not a lot, it seems. Auckland City Council has no cat control policy but North Shore City Council restricts the number of cats per residence to five.
Raising rates for what?
Sitting Auckland City Council candidates Christine Caughey and Richard Simpson are quiet over their roles in raising rates as they kick off their anti eastern motorway campaign.
Double standard
On reserves along Mt Eden Rd in Auckland City a number of makeshift signs have been erected advertising a product called City Vision. "Is this the same City Vision that instituted a crackdown on the signs of commerical premises along Dominion Rd and sought to ban billboards in the city centre?" asks Graham Power.
Double walkway
At the time of an Auckland City Council rates increase, the council still proposes to build a boardwalk at St Heliers. "Can anyone explain why duplicating a perfectly adequate footpath meets 'essential infrastructure' criteria?" asks Ron Hamilton.
22nd August, 2007
Support lacking for share sale
A NZ Herald analysis of 611 submissions about Auckland City Council (ACC) selling its Auckland International Airport shares found about 560 people opposed.
Auckland Regional Council (ARC)'s Citizens and Ratepayers Now politician Michael Barnett - wearing his hat as Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive - is pushing for the sale of the shares held by ACC - which amount to a 12.75 per cent shareholding.
Support lacking for bridge
Auckland City Council (ACC) has recently launched a worldwide competition for a 'striking sculptural' lifting bridge to link Te Wero Island in the middle of the Viaduct Basin, with the eastern edge of the waterfront area known as the Tank Farm. But we already have a landmark sculptural lifting bridge..linking Quay St with Te Wero Island. Heart of the City (business association) chief executive and ACC mayoral candidate, Alex Swney, argues the contest asked the wrong question. He challenges the need for a new lifting bridge, arguing a simple, elegant, fixed structure would be more functional and certainly lots cheaper.
Support lacking for ratepayers
Christine Rankin promises she'll be a full-on representative if she's elected to the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) to represent North Shore. The ARC, she says, is 'not focussed on its customers - the ratepayers'.
Support lacking for sculpture
Arts commentator Hamish Keith writes in the NZ Herald concerning the $250,000 Queen St (Auckland CBD) light sculpture: "I am concerned about the whole process of commissioning public sculpture for Auckland City. Having briefly served as a technical adviser to the Auckland Sculpture Trust I am eqaully unimpressed by that body."
He goes on to say, " ...the city's cultural bureaucrats won't make any progress in providing good public art while they cower safely behind soothing narratives."
20th August, 2007
Playing safe
Manukau City Council is to wait until after the election [October] before it decides whether to sell its Auckland airport shares.
Playing tough
Auckland City Council gets 'ticked off' by government officials over its plan to raise water and waste water charges to fund stormwater investments, because the plan does not meet 'funding transparency principles'.
Playing over now
NZ Herald columnist Bernard Orsman, a critic of a $250,000 glass and light sculpture outside the Civic Theatre in Auckland's CBD which is paid for by city ratepayers, says even the artist wants her name 'dissociated' from it.
Playing judge
Auckland Regional Holdings chairwoman, Judith Bassett, accusses the NZ Herald opinion writer of 'stamping about like an old warhorse' over the proposed [Waitemata Harbour] waterfront development in downtown Auckland.
14th August, 2007
Delayed rates review
The local government rates inquiry report has been delayed for a fortnight, says PM Helen Clark, as the inquiry chairman, David Shand, is away for a ?couple of weeks?.
Delayed bus lanes?
Outcry puts bus lanes along Queen Street in Auckland?s CBD in doubt ? almost 500 people or organisations felt strongly enough to send in submissions. The bus lanes now face an indefinite delay.
Whatever councillors decide next month, it will be too late for the introduction of bus lanes to coincide with the completion of the Wellesley Street/Victoria Street section of the $43.5 million upgrade of Queen Street, which will officially open on 28th August.
Delayed rail trips
Government agency Ontrack is investigating another signals and power meltdown on Auckland?s western rail line ?..
Delayed makeover for Auckland
PM Helen Clark said that senior officials had worked on Auckland issues for ?some time? and had been talking to Internal Affairs about terms of reference and membership [of the recently announced Royal Commission of Inquiry to consider Auckland local government organization].
10th August, 2007
Increased living costs
Water bills have gone up 19.6% in two years ? on top of overall rates rising 21.4% in three years. Household rates specifically have gone up 32.7%.
Water bill increases are under investigation by a Parliamentary select committee.
A Herald DigiPoll survey of Auckland City residents found 80% did not support the council demanding higher dividends from its water company, Metrowater.
Increased assets
A reader says, ?The Government or the New Zealand Superannuation Fund should buy the Auckland and Manukau city ratepayers? stake in Auckland airport, and sell down its controlling stake in Air New Zealand.?
Increased confusion
Another reader says, ?The Auckland City Council has now sprung a new light rail scheme on the region with no reference to the body charged with regional transport planning?.
8th August, 2007
Less filming
Waitakere City Council mayor Bob Harvey describes the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) plan to limit filming in the Waitakere Ranges and local beaches as ?just crazy?.
No dream home allowed
ARC ?worked behind the scenes? to stop a Te Henga dream home and now to have it demolished, even though Rodney District Council had given planning and building consents. Owner stands to lose more than $640,000.
No light rail
Light rail is back on the agenda after it was taken off four years ago, after being put on the agenda four years earlier? after (who knows? but it is many decades since it was first put on the agenda by Mayor Dove-Meyer Robinson).
No collaboration
The ARC chief executive complained the regional council had little input into the Auckland City waterfront master plan.
The ARC chairman felt snubbed by Auckland City Council after ARC and Auckland City had agreed to work together to implement the Auckland Waterfront Vision 2040.
Auckland City mayor Dick Hubbard produced documents to show Mr Lee was invited to attend the pre-briefing but his office declined.
No confidence
Trade Minister Phil Goff defended his earlier comments that sparked a fall in the share price of Auckland Airport. Goff had warned that the government opposed the merger and it was assumed this meant the two cabinet ministers involved under foreign investment rules would decline permission for the merger.
No assets required
NZ Herald city affairs columnist Brian Rudman explains he is not fussed about Auckland City selling its 12.75% ownership in Auckland Airport to invest in repairing the Aotea underground carpark or buying and restoring St James Theatre. The government, not Auckland City, should own the share, suggested Rudman. If the government wants Auckland Airport shares in public ownership, let it buy them, says Sir Roger Douglas.Phil Goff used the launch for the City Vision ticket for the upcoming Auckland city council elections to say the proposed DAE/Auckland Airport merger and the council?s ownership of shares had been handed to ?us? (Labour/City Vision) on a plate.
No protection from dogs
Micro-chipping dogs will not stop dog attacks, but it does reunite lost dogs with their owners, says Bob Kerridge, chief executive of the SPCA.
No control
Sir Roger Douglas says Auckland?s eight councils must look at basic responsibilities and needs. ?Local government in Auckland is out of control?, he said.
No bad history
Auckland City mayoral aspirant Alex Swney advertises that he?s a ?candidate for mayor who hasn?t already failed at the job?.

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