Fundamental Integrity of Government and Respect for Property Rights and RMA/SNA
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Panda-NZ-
I vote for competent govts.
Well, in comparison to what otherwise could be (only a few choices are offered).
and as logen ninefingers puts it:
"I vote for parties that believe in private property rights, individual freedoms, the maintenance of law and order, and the limiting of state intrusion in peoples lives.
"I cannot in good conscience vote for parties that believe in ever increasing socialism and state control & the undermining of the current system, as that eventually leads to revolution, anarchy, and the implementation of totalitarian regimes."
In my case and IMHO:
I believe in the rule of law, our Courts, and Appeal processes Justice and fairness.
Regardless of who I vote for:
All governments should respect private property rights.
We worked hard for what we have now.
Govt should not claim the Resource Management Act (RMA), or proposed changes to it, allows City Councils, eg Wellington City Council (WCC) and the Greater Wellington District Council (GRDC), to take property as Significant Natural Areas (SNA).
It does not.
And especially, without valid consultation, compensation to legal owners with title (at independent market rates) or a cadastral survey.
Willing buyer and willing seller are fundamental.
There is no explicit legal authority in the existing RMA to take land as SNA.
So the Govt proposes to change the RMA and councils pursue SNA.
Current SNA proposals and the WCC GWRC actions to take land as SNA without payment are inequitable and unfair.
Minorities are clearly being victimised and will suffer loss by the bullying Govt, WCC and GRC actions and tactics.
And the Draft District plan is a non statutory document without any legal authority and the proposed rules have no effect as yet.
Since 2017 the WCC SNA proposals have tormented those affected.
If the RMA and SNA changes are not opposed, then up to 1700 landowners in Wellington lose their property rights.
In our case 51% of our section.
In some cases up to 100%.
Imagine, if it was you affected, how would you react?
As things stand, there are no appeals eg to Courts if these RMA/SNA proposals are carried through.
There is no meaningful discussion with affected stakeholders, no discussion or scaling back of the % of property claimed.
Civil servants and politicians should be able to conclude, in the blink of an eye, that the current RMA/SNA proposals are unjust and reject them, if they have integrity.
How would they react if 51% of their land was taken without compensation on flimsy justifications?
With no appeal to any higher authority.
The RMA/SNA is in the Parliamentary select committee stages prior to a third reading.
An irony is that while the Govt is pushing for 3x3 housing, more buildings; the SNA in perpetuity prevents any use at all by title holders of land designated as SNA. Confusing and contradictory.
As one directly affected landowner puts it "all we can do of SNA becomes law is watch the trees grow".
I understand for most people this is a non issue. 250,000 Wellington ratepayers are not affected. Some of the 1700 who are and whose enjoyment and use of the land is compromised do object and strongly. We appear to have no rights of appeal under the current process.
Darroch Valuers, the WCC Council appointed valuers, assess loss of land value from SNA as up to 22% in the few cases they reviewed.
Significant.
What do you think?