Page 7 - Dave Macpherson News Today

A dispute over the validity of large numbers of Official Information Act requests A dispute over the validity of large numbers of Official Information Act requests 12 April 2021 The Taxpayers Union has made 58 OIA requests to the Hamilton City Council since 2018, costing it over 61-thousand-dollars. Taxpayers Union director Jordan Williams says a majority of the requests are for a vital ratepayers report. He says its a sign his group is doing a good job when councillors complain about OIA ...

Taxpayers Union spokesperson Jordan Williams and Hamilton City Councillor, Dave Macpherson. Photo: RNZ Hamilton City Councillor Dave Macpherson said an Official Information Act request to his own council showed it had 58 requests from the lobby group since the start of 2018, costing an estimated $61,364 in staff time. The sheer number and complexity of requests had meant extra staff had to be employed, he said. "When you realise there are nearly 70 councils getting these requests on what are u...

Last week Council voted against introducing Maaori wards for the 2022-25 triennium. But it did unanimously vote to strengthen Maaori representation and participation, including consideration of wards. It also voted to strengthen the role of Maangai Maaori following the adoption of a strategy, He Pou Manawa Ora. That draft strategy was developed alongside Maaori. Today Council was advised a majority of Councillors had formally sought to revoke last week’s decision. The revocation was formally ...

Scoop Community provides New Zealand Community news and views

Inexperience and infrastructure costs blamed for local government dysfunction 4 Mar, 2021 11:55 PM 5 minutes to read Tauranga City Council mayor Tenby Powell in November last year. Photo / George Novak Rotorua Daily Post By: Natalie Akoorie A long-time councillor says inexperience, personality clashes and infrastructure costs are at the root of ongoing council infighting around the country, while a local government academic believes New Zealands sector is unfit for purpose. It comes as Stuff re...

Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas, Lydia Anderson, Andrew McRae The perfect storm of problems has Massey University senior lecturer Andy Asquith echoing a call late last year to hold a Royal Commission of Inquiry into local government. Dr Asquith wants an overhaul of the sector which he says has become a "joke" to the public who have had enough of council squabbling. Infighting, internal investigations and code of conduct complaints have plagued councils up and down the country in recent years, coming to...

DOMINICO ZAPATA/STUFF This 756sqm section on Hamiltons River Road is on the market for $1,050,000. In the distance is the Pukete Bridge. Hamiltons housing crunch is worsening, as the number of sections for sale across the city slips into single figures. Only eight bare residential sections are for sale in a city made up of 60,000 lots or sections. The figure excludes house and land packages. The stark number, collated by Hamilton City Council staff, has prompted renewed debate among city p...

The Government funds have allowed the council to open up Peacocke in Hamilton’s south and has seen it start delivering a big chunk of infrastructure all at once – including work on a new river bridge. Peacocke is earmarked to soak up a lot of the city’s growth with an estimated 20,000-plus residents expected to call the area home by 2048. More than 9000 people are expected to be living in Peacocke within the next decade. However, like many high-growth cities, Hamilton has seen its debt...

Waterworld Te Rapa/Supplied Waterworld Te Rapa was one of three council businesses caught discharging contaminants into the sewers in breach of their trade waste consents. This story was originally published on and is republished with permission. A public pool, a water treatment plant and a landfill owned by Hamilton City Council are among the 99 organisations caught dumping contaminants down the drain. The three council-owned facilities were revealed after the council released the names of ...

Contaminated waste dumping: Ardern weighs options against companies in breach © RNZ / Sam Rillstone The prime minister has put companies dumping contaminated waste into sewers on notice, saying shes seeking advice about the available options. © Provided by Radio New Zealand No caption Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it is unacceptable for companies to intentionally dump contaminated waste into sewers. Photo: RNZ / Sam Rillstone No companies have been prosecuted or fined and local cou...