The Local Body Rates Heist thread

[Daytr]

Labour wanted to dump us into 3 Waters with Wellington to pay for their pathetic infrastructure management. Good riddance.
You’re not wrong about the Waimea Dam. It’s a game changer for wineries (and everyone else) around the Tasman . I hope the Government will make dam building around the country, (Otago, Canterbury, Marlborough, southern Hawkes Bay, Gisborne for example) part of their fast track projects. It’s ridiculous that we as an agricultural country, go through regular droughts while we let 85% of our rain water flow out to sea.

Iceman, that's a very simplistic way to look at our rivers. Healthy rivers is an important part of the ecology and so is the flow into the sea. We already have a major issue with nitrates in our water tables & water ways.

Dairy / beef conversions of what were previous sheep farms have only been possible due to irrigation. Many of these areas aren't suitable for cows and we need to learn to work with nature not against it.

[nztx]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-...I6EEHHIMTGOBA/

Kaipara pensioners risk having to sell homes due to rates hike - community leader

Kaipara pensioners may have to look at selling their homes if the council’s proposed 18.3 per cent rates rise goes ahead, community leader and long-time council watcher Dot Gorrie says.

Kaipara District Council (KDC) proposed rates are, at present, the highest for Northland for 2024/2025.

Mamaranui’s Gorrie said the council’s record rates rise would risk pensioners having to look “pretty seriously” at whether they could stay in their homes.

Pensioners, who were on fixed incomes, could have to look at downsizing to a more affordable property, she said.

The council watcher of almost 30 years described KDC’s early-stage proposed rates rise as scary.

“I’m shocked, thank goodness I am sitting down,” Gorrie said when told the figures by Local Democracy Reporting Northland.

“For people on a fixed income, it’s getting beyond a joke.”

She said it was getting to the stage where people could not afford to pay their rates.

Absolutely disgusting state of Affairs coming out of this Northland Council's rate hikes and this will be only the tip of the iceberg on those unable to afford annually hiked up rates - bound to be a lot more - not just pensioners in a similar position.

[Getty]

Getting rid of the orange cone mob will save a few ice-creams.

Cutting staff is another.

Despite rubbish collection and potholes, engineering services etc all being contracted out, last time l checked Hastings DC had 360 staff, probably more post cyclone.

What happens is that they then look for new projects to do to look occupied, so its not only the wage bill, but the unnecessary project cost.

Ratepayers are the meal ticket and ATM.

You don't have the option of shopping elsewhere do you?

[Daytr]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-...I6EEHHIMTGOBA/

Kaipara pensioners risk having to sell homes due to rates hike - community leader






Absolutely disgusting state of Affairs coming out of this Northland Council's rate hikes and this will be only the tip of the iceberg on those unable to afford annually hiked up rates - bound to be a lot more - not just pensioners in a similar position.

One of the main reasons is Kaipara and other Councils are still strapped with debt relating to three waters infrastructure. The cancelation of Three Waters by the new Government with no alternative in place has left Councils little choice.

100 day plan, can that, cancel this... mostly I agree with the cancelations or I would if the NAFT had an alternative plan.

They have said the would get rid of Three Waters for years, but didn't come up with their own plan?

What were they doing with all that time in opposition?

[nztx]

One of the main reasons is Kaipara and other Councils are still strapped with debt relating to three waters infrastructure. The cancelation of Three Waters by the new Government with no alternative in place has left Councils little choice.

100 day plan, can that, cancel this... mostly I agree with the cancelations or I would if the NAFT had an alternative plan.

They have said the would get rid of Three Waters for years, but didn't come up with their own plan?

What were they doing with all that time in opposition?

You'd think Labours flagship 'Three Idiots on Water' would have been a ripping success from accounts of some, but alas even the Local Body empires weren't overly eager to lap it up either even with Labour's carrot danging exercise trying to bribe all into being roped in

The odd Local Body empire or two scored a pay out, and like the cat who scored the cream went out and blew it on any old thing that sailed before their eyes

Had to be a reason why the 3 Waters was loved so well that almost everyone across the land hated Labour for it, with Labour & the Sheila (who rode in from the back blocks with it, but couldn't get her lines right without amending the very next day) all got driven out of town over it and other failures

It looks like the current Govt were doing more than what the last Labour Govt were failing at - in even trying to push flawed initiatives towards the line . Probably explains the vast carnage of Portfolios & Projects all sitting in various stages of disrepair and destruction when Joe Public finally sent the clueless huddle off down the road

[Daytr]

You'd think Labours flagship 'Three Idiots on Water' would have been a ripping success from accounts of some, but alas even the Local Body empires weren't overly eager to lap it up either even with Labour's carrot danging exercise trying to bribe all into being roped in

The odd Local Body empire or two scored a pay out, and like the cat who scored the cream went out and blew it on any old thing that sailed before their eyes

Had to be a reason why the 3 Waters was loved so well that almost everyone across the land hated Labour for it, with Labour & the Sheila (who rode in from the back blocks with it, but couldn't get her lines right without amending the very next day) all got driven out of town over it and other failures

It looks like the current Govt were doing more than what the last Labour Govt were failing at - in even trying to push flawed initiatives towards the line . Probably explains the vast carnage of Portfolios & Projects all sitting in various stages of disrepair and destruction when Joe Public finally sent the clueless huddle off down the road

Lets keep it simple, all I want to see is the Government's alternative to three waters.
They sat in opposition for years saying they would reverse three waters & I was all for that, as long as they had their own plan.
The status quo is what got us to where we are now, in dire straits.

How can they not have a plan after all these years?

[nztx]

Lets keep it simple, all I want to see is the Government's alternative to three waters.
They sat in opposition for years saying they would reverse three waters & I was all for that, as long as they had their own plan.
The status quo is what got us to where we are now, in dire straits.

How can they not have a plan after all these years?

How could the Local Bodies huddle have got themselves in such a shocking mismanaged mess at this point
after how long being custodian of these things ?

Three Waters is nothing more than a fudged attempt by Labour to land the responsibility for the mess
into the laps of the Taxpayer & in process created an even larger unholy shambles

That is what the clueless incompetent Labour Minister trying to shove this through actually achieved
and no wonder .. what did she honestly expect ?

[Daytr]

How could the Local Bodies huddle have got themselves in such a shocking mismanaged mess at this point
after how long being custodian of these things ?

Three Waters is nothing more than a fudged attempt by Labour to land the responsibility for the mess
into the laps of the Taxpayer & in process created an even larger unholy shambles

That is what the clueless incompetent Labour Minister trying to shove this through actually achieved
and no wonder .. what did she honestly expect ?

You ask how? Already answered above.
Chronic under funding by Central Government for decades.

I wasn't a fan of Three Waters like most people weren't, but it doesn't mean after years of moaning about it National shouldn't have had an alternative. Apparently 14Bln on motorways is more important than water infrastructure.

I really don't know why they don't just consolidate the Three Waters under a structure that already exists,.being Regional Councils. It still keeps it local but also consolidates to give a sizeable balance sheet & scale.
Central Government has to come to the party on funding. They could at least give Councils the GST they collect on rates.

[nztx]

Local Body Robbers at it again:

Hauraki rates and fees could rise 40 per cent in three years


https://www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-n...LAB45R2ZNLJUE/


Hauraki District Council rates and fees to rise dramatically to cover costs

Hauraki ratepayers face significant rates and fees hikes as the cost of living continues to bite.

Hauraki District Council has released its consultation document for the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan following a council meeting on March 13.

It comes with a long list of fee increases and a proposed rates hike of more than 17 per cent.

A spokesperson for the council said increased fees “can be a combination of increased compliance costs, new legislation or cost of service delivery”.

The spokesperson also confirmed an accompanying document Love This Place had been read and accepted by councillors without objection.

The document gave a breakdown of rates (non-water) and fee increases, more notably a 17.4 per cent increase in 2024/25, per property rates, followed by 12.3 per cent in 2025/26 and 9.2 per cent in 2026/27.

"Love this Place" should be renamed ..


how about -


"Love these Local Govt Money-grabbing Pr!cks who regard everyone as their ATM to rob & fleece at will " ?

[nztx]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-ba...NCLCAOC7354IA/

Napier rates climb 100pc on some hill streets, and Cyclone Gabrielle is to blame



Paywallllled


You move higher - we hike the Rates GRAB higher


Napier City Council really knows how to ramp up the pain on the poor captive peasants within it's territory

Might be cheaper moving just down the road outside NCC Rate Hike boundaries - Napierites - the next County doesn't sting quite as hard as the NCC Local Body beavers imposing a grand price of at least 3 legs and 2 arms