Wairoa responds to Taxpayers' Union rates claim

Further to our questioning of the use of a rates figure that does not include new targeted rates, the Wairoa District Council has issued a media release:

Wairoa District Council Defends Against Negativity

Wairoa is transforming into a vibrantly energetic part of New Zealand and will no longer accept spin-driven criticism. This is the message from newly-appointed CEO of Wairoa District Council Fergus Power, in response to recent criticism by the New Zealand Taxpayers Union over a proposed budget increase.

Describing it as just another example of ‘Wairoa-bashing’, Mr Power said it was a cheap shot that distracted from the fact that the district is very much open for business.

“I have been appointed to bring about a transformation within Council, and within the district. The first step requires active rebut of the sort of nonsense that has been promulgated for years – that Wairoa is in decay, has inept leadership, and is incapable of a sustainable, prosperous future. In fact, Wairoa district has the youngest and most vibrant population structure of all of the cities and districts in the Hawke’s Bay region – with 25% of the population aged between 0-14,” said Mr Power.

“That is backed up with some of the warmest and most welcoming people, a rich and proud Maori culture, the kindest climate imaginable, and a surfeit of fish, game, and opportunities to recreate in the vast outdoors – which includes the stunning Lake Waikaremoana and Te Urewera National Park, and the world-renowned beaches of the Mahia Peninsula, with sun, sand and surfing”, he said.

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said Wairoa would no longer accept baseless scaremongering.

“I will defend Wairoa district’s reputation aggressively. We are no longer a punching bag. We are punching above our weight and we have much work to do as a community”.

"When the punching bag looks like blue sea, warm sand, sunshine, and an energised and dedicated community committed to a complete transformation of the district – it becomes a slightly harder target. In fact, why would you even want to diminish it?

NZTU criticism was centred around the Draft Annual Plan 2014-2015, which is currently in the consultation phase.

The plan includes a 5.43 percent increase in the budget, which does not include the funding requirements for the Mahia and Opoutama Wastewater Schemes. Ratepayers not involved in either wastewater scheme are not affected by these funding requirements.

Participants in the wastewater schemes are being consulted with separately, as they have several options for repayment. Figures that relate to these schemes in the Draft Plan reflect the default repayment option, although the choices those participants make will have a significant impact on the projected rates requirement.

All Wairoa ratepayers are sent individual draft rates notices, which record the proposed rates amount for their individual properties under the Draft Annual Plan.

Visit www.wairoadc.govt.nz to view the plan in full and make an online submission. Consultation closes at noon on Thursday, June 12.

Ends

We reject that our comments were 'Wairoa bashing' and would rather stick to the issues. 

We accept that the Wairoa District Mayor and CEO were not intentionally misleading Wairoa ratepayers in relation to rate increases related to the Mahia and Opoutama Wastewater Schemes. We also accept that the Council has consulted widely on those schemes and those ratepayers affected are likely to be aware, or will soon be aware, of the financial implications of the schemes and following further clarification we without reservation apologise for any malignment of the character of the Mayor and CEO of the Wairoa District Council.

We still believe that the Council was wrong to use the 5.43% in material issued publicly, without making it clear that this figure did not include spending and rates related to the wastewater schemes. The draft annual plan shows that total rates income (including the targeted rates) is estimated to increase by 15.9%. We thought that it was proper, and still think it proper, to raise the matter publicly. In part we relied on a statement from a Council officer  that the wording was ‘loose’. After assurances from the Council’s CEO that the Council had not meant to mislead the public, we are happy to let the matter be debated as part of the normal draft annual plan consultation process.