Let's Chat
Personal thoughts and observations by Garry Jackson, Mayor, Hurunui District Council
14 November 2009
Hello everyone
Wednesday last week, attending the topical Rodney Hide breakfast, was a timely reminder of just what happens in our major media; the headlines are made, and the public attention is distracted, by what was obviously a throw away comment made at a small table of guests who Rodney happened to be sitting with, whilst the message of the formal presentation itself, of interest and relevance to most if not all of us as New Zealanders, went unreported.
Let me share with you the key points that struck a chord with me.
As Act party leader, working as a government partner in a MMP environment, Rodney Hide emphasised the point that the relationship between Act and National is based more on the personal relationship he shares with the Prime Minister than the technical terms and clauses in the supply and confidence agreement that both parties signed shortly after the 2008 elections.
As an example of that relationship, Minister Hide expanded on the way in which the National government’s economic and social strategies had been shaped and refined, summed up by the easily communicated vision and goal of “parity with Australia by 2025”. By implication, it would appear that Act played their part in this definition. Please note that I am not writing this from the viewpoint of being an Act supporter or otherwise......all I can say, and agree with, is that as a country we now have an ambitious but credible target in terms of economic and social prosperity that potentially will impact on all of us, and to close that gap it will require a improvement in NZ’s performance by 30 percent relative to Australia, in little over a fifteen year period.
The presentation then moved on to some of the issues that need to be addressed, if that 30 percent improvement is to be achieved. Not surprisingly, as Minister of Local Government and Regulatory Reform, Rodney Hide focussed what needs to be done on local government, in terms of increased service delivery, increased financial prudence and responsibility, greater transparency and accountability, and reduced red tape. On top of that we were given a serious and clear commitment from government with regard to reduced demands and costs that will flow down to local councils in future. The introduction of the rationalised and amalgamated local government structure in the Auckland Super City model, and the resultant efficiencies, were also highlighted as part of the actions necessary to close the gap with Australia.
Perhaps the most significant part of the breakfast, from the viewpoint of some of the issues that have challenged Hurunui, is the government’s commitment to regulatory responsibility and in particular private property rights. This is an initiative specifically spearheaded by Act; Rodney Hide introduced a private members bill along these lines when in opposition (Hurunui District Council submitted to the Select Committee in favour of the draft proposal, as did Federated Farmers, and interestingly Local Government NZ opposed it). Now under a MMP government the thrust of this direction has been adopted by cabinet, and we were told that new legislation is likely later this year or early 2010.
I find it interesting that all you actually read about was the headline “John Key does nothing”.
Sincerely
Garry Jackson
garry.jackson@hurunui.govt.nz
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