Word from the Mayor
The 3 waters reform that central government have in their focus continues to consume a significant amount of time and energy.
The Department of Internal Affairs on behalf of the government have released the proposed entities with 4 across the country and the Hurunui being part of a South Island entity excluding Nelson/Marlborough. Our region is determined by the Ngai Tahu taikawa or region.
Our council entered this process in good faith with the understanding that the proposal will be evaluated against the status quo. Our council and executive team need to absorb the information received and carefully consider the impact for our communities and district.
We need to understand how the government arrived at the proposed cost to deliver water and what is the logic or rational behind them. Our ratepayers have invested heavily and proactively in the water schemes over several generations and it remains our undertaking to ensure we consider this district into any decision making. The current advertising campaign is misleading and an insult to the current status within the Hurunui District along with many other districts in New Zealand. It is my understanding that the decision to “opt out” is still on the table however confidence in the integrity of the government position is not 100% guaranteed. With many of the large metro councils declaring their position to opt out of the proposal early it changes the aggregation model significantly. We will keep you informed as we receive further information.
The Local Government reform is underway with a series of workshops being held across the country – collectively it is clear that the strength of the local council is the ability to be responsive to community needs, be innovative, connected and agile. The opportunity exists to lead the link between education, health, employment and job training at the localized level. There is a great future for local governors at a local level – we need to continue to be a strong voice in the future.
Our local roads form a significant part of our critical infrastructure and to hear that Waka Kotahi (formally NZTA) slashed our funding by $1million was a cruel blow, as we all deserve safe and structurally sound roads to deliver our stock to market and get our kids safe to school.
Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 proved the advantage of our district is our ability to feed the nation, our farmers will be joining the national wide “A Howl of the Protest” in Amberley, Cheviot and Culverden on Friday 16th July at midday. This is an opportunity for our district to come together in solidarity to support our farmers and growers.