Stick to essential spending and keep rates low. pending and keep rates low; that’s the overwhelming feedback from Waikato district communities following hearings on Waikato District Council’s draft 2024/25 Enhanced Annual Plan.
Waikato District Council proposed a 13.75% increase in general rates revenue required for the next financial year. 227 submissions on the draft 2024/25 Enhanced Annual Plan were received, with 50 submitters requesting in-person hearings.
The number of responses received this year was higher than in previous Annual Plan consultations, which acting chief executive Tony Whittaker said was to be expected given the cost-of-living crisis impacting everyday New Zealanders.
156 specifically commented on the proposed 13.75% general rate revenue increase, which the vast majority (149) opposed.
“We’ve heard loud and clear through the consultation and submission process that people in our communities are experiencing financial stress, particularly families and those on fixed incomes, and the unaffordability of rates is a real concern,” Whittaker shared.
“At the same time, our Council have also heard that there is dissatisfaction with services being provided by the Council. People want more from the Council for less money. So while the Council is being asked to focus only on absolutely essential spending with no “nice to haves,” and reduce or delay projects as much as possible, there is also a clear expectation that we deliver quality water, roading, waste management and community services,” he says.
For the smaller number who supported the increase, general comments indicated an understanding of the reasons behind the higher proposed rate increase and a desire not to further delay infrastructure maintenance and renewals.
“We’ve also received feedback that the government’s rate rebates scheme should be extended to support those who do not meet the current eligibility criteria but will struggle to pay their upcoming rates bill. We’ll pass that feedback onto the Department of Internal Affairs and get as much support as possible from Central government to reduce the burden on local ratepayers,” he adds.
Other themes during the hearings included requests to fix roads and stormwater systems, limit spending on outdoor spaces, and dissatisfaction with how rubbish and recycling are funded.
The Council will deliberate from 4 to 6 June 2024, when they will review and discuss submissions.
By law, Councils must review their Long Term Plan every three years. This year, central Government gave Councils the one-off option to delay their 2024-2034 Long Term Plan as part of the “Local Water Done Well” legislation and instead prepare an ‘Enhanced Annual Plan’ for the 2024/25 financial year.
The 2024/25 draft Enhanced Annual Plan proposed an increased general rate revenue requirement of 13.75% for the district to maintain current service levels and deliver essential infrastructure projects.
Consultation on the proposed rate increase closed on 26 April 2024.
The Annual Plan is due to be adopted by the end of June 2024, and will come into effect on 1 July 2024.
Public consultation has opened on the parameters of Waikato Regional Council’s electoral structure.
The council is required to conduct a representation review every six years, with the last review done in 2018. The review is crucial to ensure compliance with the Local Electoral Act 2001 (LEA) and the principles outlined in the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA).
“In the review, council must consider several key factors, including fair representation, effective representation, and communities of interest,” says Pou Tūhono Mali Ahipene.
“Factors such as population data, demographic trends and projected population growth are all considered.”
Currently, Waikato Regional Council representation arrangements consist of 14 councillors, with six general constituencies and two Māori constituencies. In August 2023, the council reaffirmed its commitment to retaining Māori constituencies for electoral processes.
As part of the review, council decided to continue to have 14 elected members, six general constituencies and two Māori constituencies.
“Based on the latest electoral population statistics, however, the Waihou general constituency is over-represented when the +/- 10 per cent rule is applied.”
The Waihou constituency comprises the entirety of the South Waikato and Matamata-Piako districts, Arahiwi (a small area within the Rotorua Lakes district) and part of the Hauraki district.
On 24 April 2024, the council made an initial resolution, where councillors voted 11-1 to modify the boundary of the Waihou constituency to include the Waihi and Paeroa rural areas—currently in the Thames-Coromandel constituency—to meet the requirements for fair representation.
The initial resolution would involve approximately 2400 people from the Thames-Coromandel constituency being incorporated into the Waihou constituency.
“We encourage people living in the Waikato region to go to our website to read more about what we’re proposing and share their views,” says Ms Ahipene.
Consultation closes at 5pm on Friday, 7 June 2024.
Volunteer community groups and landowners in the Waikato region are invited to apply to a fund that supports pest animal and pest plant control.
Applications have opened for the 2024 Small Scale Community Initiatives Fund, which is administered by Waikato Regional Council. The deadline for applications is 3pm on 31 May.
“The fund promotes pest animal and plant control for projects in the Waikato region that are working towards achieving biodiversity outcomes,” said Patrick Whaley, Manager – Biosecurity and Biodiversity.
“It’s about providing support to volunteer community groups or individual landowners, enabling them to continue their mahi protecting our native species.”
Applicants can apply for up to $5000 for a project. The total funding pool is about $150,000 each year, which is funded through rates.
“The fund is primarily for the purchase of materials such as traps, lures and herbicides, which can all be used to protect our natives whether that’s trees in a patch of forest, a unique species or a precious wetland.
“Professional contracted services up to $1000—such as the services of a qualified herbicide applicator or controlled substance licence holder—can also be funded.”
The fund is assessed by a panel skilled in the area of pest control and ecological restoration according to how well applications meet a list of criteria. For the next few years, priority will be given to landscape scale projects which can be achieved through small groups or individuals linking up with larger projects or other small projects.
“If people and groups are aware of what others are doing in the animal and pest plant control space in their communities, and work together rather than in isolation, they are more likely to be successful.”
On the 18th and 19th May Raglan Movies at the Old School has 4 movies.
First up on Saturday 18th at 4.45pm is THE HOLDOVERS. This is followed at 7.30pm by the final screening of ONE LIFE. On Sunday afternoon at 4.30pm there is BOB MARLEY – ONE LOVE, followed by a second screening of SIX INCHES OF SOIL.
Door sales from 30 mins before session times. You can reserve seats or buy tickets at http://raglanmovies.nz
April 21, May 18: THE HOLDOVERS
2024 OSCAR winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role) with 2024 Golden Globe winner Paul Giamatti (Best Male actor) as a cranky history teacher at a prep school, forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no place to go.
STUFF/ WAIKATO TIMES Graeme Tuckett 5/5 stars “Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The United States vs Billie Holiday) takes on the role of chef and confidant Mary, and burns the screen down in a couple of key scenes. The Holdovers is a marvel.”
THE HOLDOVERS – M 133 mins | USA
Saturday 18th May 4.45pm
Ticket prices: $16 Adults, $14 Concession and $9 Children. RCAC Members $12.
Raglan Movies at the Old School, 5 Stewart St, Raglan 3225.
Book online: raglanmovies.nz, (Office closed until 8th January)
Door sales from 30 mins before session times.
Licensed bar & homemade snacks on sale.
From acclaimed director Alexander Payne, THE HOLDOVERS follows a bad tempered instructor (2024 Golden Globes winner) Paul Giamatti) at a prestigious American school who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually he forms an unlikely bond with one of them — a damaged, brainy troublemaker (newcomer Dominic Sessa) — and with the school’s head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam (2024 OSAC winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph).
DIRECTED BY Alexander Payne CAST Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa
‘
May 19: ONE LOVE – BOB MARLEY
FIRST HE CHANGED MUSIC. THEN HE CHANGED THE WORLD.
Graeme Tuckett Waikato Times/ Stuff 4/5 Stars “A mostly very watchable and enjoyable ride. There’s a good handful of set-pieces here – the jam session that led to the writing of the title track of Exodus is a standout, a visit to a pub in London where The Clash are playing is another.”
BOB MARLEY ONE LOVE M Drug use & violence 2024, 107 mins | USA
Sunday 19th May 4.30pm, Saturday 15th June 7.30pm
Ticket prices: $16 Adults, $14 Concession and $9 Children. RCAC Members $12.
Raglan Movies at the Old School, 5 Stewart St, Raglan 3225.
Book online: raglanmovies.nz, call into the Old School office Mon-Fri 10am to 2pm. (Office closed public holidays)
Door sales from 30 mins before session times.
Licensed bar & homemade snacks on sale.
BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity. On the big screen for the first time, discover Bob’s powerful story of overcoming adversity and the journey behind his revolutionary music.
Produced in partnership with the Marley family and starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as the legendary musician and Lashana Lynch as his wife Rita.
DIRECTOR: Reinaldo Marcus Green WRITERS: Reinaldo Marcus Green, Zach Baylin, Frank E. Flowers, Terence Winter CAST: Lashana Lynch, Tosin Cole, Kingsley Ben-Adir, James Norton, Anthony Welsh, Michael Gandolfini, Umi Myers, Nadine Marshall
BOB MARLEY ONE LOVE M Drug use & violence 2024, 107 mins | USA
May 5: ONE LIFE
Based on the book ‘If It’s Not Impossible…’ by BARBARA WINTON.
Official Selection: Toronto International Film Festival BFI London Film Festival
Radio NZ Dan Slevin “Sir Anthony Hopkins carries this moving drama about one of the 20th century’s unsung heroes.”
ONE LIFE PG 2023, 109 mins | UK | Language English
Saturday 18th May 7.30pm
Ticket prices: $16 Adults, $14 Concession and $9 Children. RCAC Members $12.
Raglan Movies at the Old School, 5 Stewart St, Raglan 3225.
Book online: raglanmovies.nz, call into the Old School office Mon-Fri 10am to 2pm. (Office closed public holidays)
Door sales from 30 mins before session times.
Licensed bar & homemade snacks on sale.
ONE LIFE tells the inspiring true story of Sir Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Winton, whose unsung endeavours on the eve of World War II saved more than 600 children from their doom. Nicky considered himself a banker, not a humanitarian. Yet when he visited a recently annexed Prague in 1938 and saw the state of the fleeing Jewish refugees, he did what he believed was the right thing to do – the thing that anyone would do – and dedicated himself to the cause. War was approaching, and it was a race against time. How many children could he liberate before it ran out?
Fifty years later, it’s 1988 and Nicky is haunted by the fate of the children he wasn’t able to help. And so it’s not until he’s surprised by the survivors on live television that he can accept that when facing devastating atrocities, saving even one life is a victory, and the British public learn the truth about the hero hidden in their midst.
DIRECTOR: James Hawes WRITER: Lucinda Coxon, Nick Drake CAST: Sir Anthony Hopkins, Johnny Flynn, Helena Bonham Carter, Jonathan Pryce, Romola Garai, Alex Sharp, Lena Olin
ONE LIFE PG 2023, 109 mins | UK | Language English
May 19: SIX INCHES OF SOIL – Premium movie $20 entry
The revolution is underground.
SIX INCHES OF SOIL premiered at COP28 in Dubai on Saturday 9th December 2023
Country & Town House Jenny Jeffries “Six Inches Of Soil is a brand new film being released this autumn about the inspiring story of British farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way they produce food – to heal the soil, benefit our health and provide for local communities. Six Inches of Soil is a story of courage, vision and hope.”
SIX INCHES OF SOIL Doc. Exempt, 90 mins | UK | Language English
Sunday 19th May 7.00pm
Premium screening – Ticket price: $20.
Raglan Movies at the Old School, 5 Stewart St, Raglan 3225.
Book online: raglanmovies.nz, call into the Old School office Mon-Fri 10am to 2pm. (Office closed public holidays)
Door sales from 30 mins before session times.
Licensed bar & homemade snacks on sale.
The inspiring story of British farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way they produce food – to heal the soil, benefit our health and provide for local communities.
PRODUCER: Claire Mackenzie DIRECTOR and SCREENWRITER: Colin Ramsay
SIX INCHES OF SOIL Doc. Exempt, 90 mins | UK | Language English
