A Word from the Mayor
A complex time a time to pause
“Its time Canterbury” website provides comprehensive insights from the Climate change working group under the Canterbury Mayoral Forum. The website provides detailed information on what the Hurunui District is doing alongside other territorial authorities across the region.
Climate change affects communities now, but its full impact will be felt across generations. The specific impacts will be felt differently in different places with the risks and opportunities also differing from place to place.
As a member of the Canterbury Mayoral Forum Climate change working group, I am pleased to signify the progress we are making although I am mindful that there is much more to do.
Following the announcement in October 2021 to legislate to establish four new publicly owned water services entities, many within local government and the community raised concerns about public ownership, the risk of privatization and loss of local voice. A ministerial working group was established headed by an independent chair and equal number of local government and iwi leaders. The working group heard a range of views, considered people’s frustrations and have formed a range of 47 recommendations, which may be found on www.threewatersreform.co.nz one recommendation includes the need to rethink how to recover confidence lost by the earlier media campaign.
Communities 4 local Democracy now has growing membership and is representative of 32 councils and believes there is a better option than the ‘one size fits all” being proposed. Local responsibility and accountability, meaningful mana whenua representation, and local infrastructure in direct ownership of local communities with real protection against privatization are key elements to be addressed at a planned meeting with the Minister in Wellington on Wednesday 16th March.
The raft of legislative change, the speed of delivery, and the apparent poorly constructed policy is having a detrimental impact on rural businesses, our community feels like it has lost it voice over a wide range of issues and I encourage the government to engage – stop and have a conversation, listen to those who are doing the hard mahi and let’s work together so that New Zealand INC gets the outcomes it needs and deserves. Rushing to deliver inside this parliamentary term will not necessarily deliver optimum results.
Covid-19 continues to have a presence in our district with many families being either confirmed or close contact, I urge you to initially reach to your health centre for advice, and if welfare support is required, the Community Partnership team at council can support through the MSD funded Next Step facilitator.
Our grand old hospital at Waikari is having to take a temporary closure during this time of covid-19, as a community we will work together to ensure a welcome return to strong occupancy along with the quality cares it is known for, this hospital provides a critical link to health care for our district.
So much happening in the world lets be safe out there.
Kia Kaha