Category: Council Spending

Newsroom article: Three Waters repeal forces councils to hike rates by a third

Posted by Admin | Dec 25, 2023 | Buller District, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Far North District, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Three Waters, United Nations, World Health Organisation

OPINION: 100% Rates Rise

Posted by Admin | Jun 21, 2024 | Consultation, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, News, Opinion, Rates Increases

BOP Times Article: Tauranga raised pedestrian crossing ripped out after vibration issues, returned to original design

Posted by Admin | Nov 2, 2024 | Council Spending, Hostile Architecture, New Zealand Issues, News, Tauranga City, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Opinion article in The Spinoff: Let’s Get Wellington Moving was a giant waste of time

Posted by Admin | Dec 25, 2023 | Core Services, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Greater Wellington Region, Hostile Architecture, Local Government Reform, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Council Spending

Newsroom article: Three Waters repeal forces councils to hike rates by a third

Dec 25, 2023 | Buller District, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Far North District, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Three Waters, United Nations, World Health Organisation

Headline: Three Waters repeal forces councils to hike rates by a third Authored by: Jonathan Milne...

OPINION: 100% Rates Rise

Jun 21, 2024 | Consultation, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, News, Opinion, Rates Increases
BOP Times Article: Tauranga raised pedestrian crossing ripped out after vibration issues, returned to original design

Nov 2, 2024 | Council Spending, Hostile Architecture, New Zealand Issues, News, Tauranga City, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading
OPINION: Water meters back on the cards for Hamilton

Mar 27, 2024 | Core Services, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Opinion, Tauranga City, Three Waters, Wellington City
OPINION: The Numbers Game

Jul 25, 2024 | Cities, Contractors, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Global Agendas, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero, WEF

Council Spending

Hukanui Road In-Lane Bus Stop and Unintended Consequences

Nov 5, 2024 | Article, Climate Change and Weather, Council Spending, Disruptions, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, Opinion, Pollution, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

By Jo Reeder (CityWatch NZ Editor, Hamilton Resident, and Hamilton Ratepayer) I took a drive out...

Additional Posts

News coverage of the meetings to oppose the Tararua toll road

Oct 25, 2024 | Cities and Regions, Consultation, Council Spending, Emergency Services, Health and Safety, News, Palmerston North City, Protest, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Safety and Well-being, Toll Roads, Transport and Roading

Summary State Highway 3 through the Manawatū Gorge was closed in 2017 due to slips. Saddle road is...

OPEN LETTER: Getting Local Government ‘Back on Track’

Oct 25, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Crime, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Open Letters, Opinion, Property Rights, Rates Increases

By Don Hewison (ScEdD, ChEdD) and sent to government ministers in October 2024 I recently read Hon...

OPINION: Shaw’s Bird Park: Broken Promises and Debt-fuelled Destruction

Oct 3, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Crime, Developer Contributions, Hamilton City, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Property Rights, Protest, Shaw's Bird Park

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor and 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate) Back in...

Shaw’s Bird Park: Diggers, Barricades, and Trespass Notices

Oct 3, 2024 | Article, Contractors, Council Debt, Council Spending, Crime, Freedom of Expression, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, News, Parks and Reserves, Property Rights, Protest, Shaw's Bird Park

Contractor’s machinery occupying parts of the Bird Park, Photographed in September 2024...

OPINION: Why Vote Against “Safety” and “Free Money”?

Oct 1, 2024 | Auckland City, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Mode Shift, News, Open Letters, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero, Wellington City

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor and 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate) The issue...

Hamilton’s $689,000 raised crossing delayed

Oct 1, 2024 | Consultation, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Emergency Services, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero, Voting Record

On Thursday (26 September 2024) Hamilton City Council voted to delay a decision on the plans for a...

US court ruling on fluoride in drinking water being a health hazard

Oct 1, 2024 | Article, Auckland City, Cities, Cities and Regions, Council Spending, Dunedin City, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Hutt City, International, Invercargill City, Law and Legislation, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Palmerston North City, Porirua City, Safety and Well-being, Three Waters, Upper Hutt City, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Water Fluoridation, Wellington City, World Health Organisation

A major US court ruling on water fluoridation has judged that fluoridation of drinking water at...

“Stop Water Fluoridation” petition (closes 19 Nov 2024)

Oct 1, 2024 | Auckland City, Cities, Council Spending, Dunedin City, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Hutt City, Invercargill City, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Palmerston North City, Petitions, Porirua City, Safety and Well-being, Taking Action, Three Waters, Upper Hutt City, Waikato Region, Waipa District, Water Fluoridation, Wellington City

This petition to parliament is due to close on 19 November 2024 (11:59 pm). Go to this link to...

OPINION: Councils are Out of Control

Sep 26, 2024 | Auckland City, Code of Conduct complaints, Council Finances, Council Spending, Freedom of Expression, Hamilton City, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Open Letters, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Three Waters, Wellington City

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Councils are out of control. Not just Hamilton City,...

OPINION: The Slippery Slope is a Strategy, not a Fallacy

Sep 3, 2024 | Article, Auckland City, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Internet of Things, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor and 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate) With the...

Articles covering PM Luxon’s speech to LGNZ (August 2024)

Sep 2, 2024 | Article, Cities, Code of Conduct complaints, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Freedom of Expression, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Overview, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases, Regions, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Prime Minister Christopher Luxon gave a speech at the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ)...

OPINION “Local Water Done Well” and the Hamilton Ratepayer

Aug 31, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Water Meters

By Geoff Kreegher (Hamilton Ratepayer) “Local Water Done Well” is the Coalition Government’s plan...

Wellington City Council looks to reduce numbers of raised crossings in Thorndon Quay plan

Aug 31, 2024 | Article, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Emergency Services, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Petitions, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Voting Record, Wellington City

Opposition to Wellington City Council’s plan to install five raised pedestrian crossing along...

OPINION: Luxon Nails Councils

Aug 27, 2024 | Auckland City, Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Prime Minister Chris Luxon fronted the Local Government...

OPINION: The Fight Against Speed Bumps Rolls On

Aug 18, 2024 | Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Hostile Architecture, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Voting Record

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Hamilton City Council’s Infrastructure committee...

OPINION: Te Huia History Part 1 (1968-2010)

Aug 3, 2024 | Article, Auckland City, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, Opinion, Overview, Public Transport, Rail, Transport and Roading, Waikato Region

Te Huia Auckland-Hamilton Passenger Rail Service and Its Predecessors: History Part 1 (1968-2010)...

Opposition mobilises against the five raised crossings on Thorndon Quay, Wellington

Jul 29, 2024 | Article, Council Spending, Disruptions, Emergency Services, Greater Wellington Region, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Petitions, Public Transport, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Further opposition mobilises against Wellington City Council’s plan to install five raised...

Who is Taituarā (SOLGM)?

Jul 26, 2024 | Article, Cities, Cities and Regions, Contractors, Council Spending, Global Agendas, Local Government Reform, Managed Retreat, New Zealand Issues, Overview, Professional Managerial Class, Regions

Summary Taituarā was called the New Zealand Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM)...

Hamilton City Council Parks and Open Spaces survey closes 29 July 2024

Jul 25, 2024 | Consultation, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Parks and Reserves, Taking Action, Transport and Roading

An opportunity to educate the Hamilton City Council on how the City’s parks and public...

Democracy Project Article: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country

Jul 25, 2024 | Asset Sales, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Water Meters, Wellington City

[Originally published 29 April 2024 on the Democracy Project] By Dr Bryce Edwards (Political...

Democracy Project Article: When Unelected officials dominate the local democratic process

Jul 25, 2024 | Article, Asset Sales, Auckland City, Christchurch City, Cities and Regions, Code of Conduct complaints, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Freedom of Expression, Global Agendas, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Overview, Professional Managerial Class, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Wellington City

Summary Bryce Edwards (Political Analyst and Director of the Democracy Project) provides a...

The Spinoff and The Post cover a planned $55 million project to install five raised crossings in Wellington

Jul 25, 2024 | Council Spending, Disruptions, Emergency Services, Greater Wellington Region, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Wellington City Council is planning to install five raised pedestrian crossing along...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Jos Nagels

Jul 11, 2024 | Core Services, Council Finances, Council Spending, Elections, High-density Housing, Opinion, Public Transport, Rail, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Transport and Roading

Jos Nagels’ Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga election...

OPINION: A bridge too far

Jul 3, 2024 | Code of Conduct complaints, Consultation, Council Spending, Freedom of Expression, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Protest, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Waipa District

By Andrew Bydder The sleepy leafy suburbs of quaint conservative Cambridge were torn apart by...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Anthony Goddard

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Spending, Elections, High-density Housing, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Public Transport, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Three Waters, Transport and Roading

Anthony Goddard’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Abraham (Bram) van Berkel

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, High-density Housing, Managed Retreat, Natural Hazards, Opinion, Rates Increases, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Transport and Roading

Abraham (Bram) van Berkel’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Rod Taylor

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Funding, Council Spending, Disruptions, Elections, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024

Rod Taylor’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Tim Maltby

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Funding, Council Spending, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Rates Increases, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Transport and Roading

Tim Maltby’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

OPINION: Te Huia or Te Toroa? The Costly Rail Service.

Jun 25, 2024 | Auckland City, Christchurch City, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Invercargill City, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Transport and Roading, Waikato Region

By Geoff Lewis (Hamilton Journalist) I’ve always thought the Hamilton to Auckland commuter...

OPINION: The Orange Cone Infestation

Jun 21, 2024 | Auckland City, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, News, Official Information Act, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Transport and Roading

By Margaret Evans (former Mayor and Hamilton Ratepayer) I’ve suggested to Hamilton City...

Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 3 Highlights

Jun 10, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Selected speakers from the 3rd day of the public hearings for the Hamilton City Council Long-Term...

Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 2 Highlights

Jun 7, 2024 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Rates Increases, Taking Action, Transport and Roading

Selected speakers from the 2nd day of the public hearings for the Hamilton City Council Long-Term...

What has been happening with number plate recognition cameras in Manchester, UK?

Jun 1, 2024 | Article, Cities and Regions, Climate Change and Weather, Council Debt, Council Spending, Crime, Global Agendas, International, Mode Shift, News, Overview, Petitions, Protest, Public Transport, Surveillance, Taking Action, Transport and Roading

Summary and Key Points In 2008 the Greater Manchester local authorities proposed a congestion...

Protest outside Hamilton City Council on the 27th of June

May 31, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Protest, Taking Action

A protest is being planned before Hamilton City Council’s Long-Term Plan is finalised in...

Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 1 Highlights

May 30, 2024 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, News, Rates Increases, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Three Waters, Traffic Calming, UN 2030 Agenda

Selected speakers from the 1st day of the public hearings for the Hamilton City Council Long-Term...

Colin Jones on Hamilton City Council’s Long-Term Plan

May 15, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Official Information Act, Open Letters, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Taking Action

On 15 May 2024, Colin Jones presented to Hamilton City Council about the Long-Term Plan. Video of...

Protest outside Hamilton City Council on the 17th of May

May 11, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Petitions, Protest, Rates Increases, Taking Action

A protest is being planned for the last day of the “verbal submissions“ phase of Hamilton City...

A misleading headline and Hamilton City Council’s sensitivity to the word “fudging”

May 11, 2024 | Article, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, News, Rates Increases

With Hamilton City Council’s reported financial situation rapidly getting worse, the 7th of May...

OPINION: Margaret Evans’ submission on the Hamilton City Long-Term Plan

Apr 21, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Local Government Reform, News, Open Letters, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Taking Action

By Margaret Evans (former Mayor and Hamilton Ratepayer) To the Mayor and Councillors:...

OPINION: What to keep and what to cut in Hamilton’s Long-Term Plan?

Apr 20, 2024 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Crime, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Mode Shift, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Three Waters, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

By John McDonald, 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate One of the main narratives being...

OPINION: Analysis of Hamilton City Council’s financial position

Apr 19, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Official Information Act, Opinion, Rates Increases, Taking Action

By Geoff Kreegher (Hamilton Ratepayer) In preparation of the 2024-34 Long Term Plan the Mayor...

Waikato Times article: Firefighters spark up at loathed traffic calming measures

Apr 16, 2024 | Council Spending, Emergency Services, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, News, Protest, Public Transport, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero

Headline: Firefighters spark up at loathed traffic calming measures Authored by: Stacey Rangitonga...

Long-Term Plan consultation guide

Apr 15, 2024 | Article, Cities, Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Spending, Guides, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Overview, Resources, Taking Action, Wellington City

In New Zealand, city councils usually produce a Long-Term Plan every three years. The council’s...

OPINION: Why is Hamilton City Council unable to prepare and promise a financial budget that works?

Apr 13, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Opinion, Rates Increases, Taking Action

By Prudintis (a Hamilton City Ratepayer) Last year’s reported “balancing the books” deficit of...

Petition to stop rates increases and growing debt at Hamilton City Council

Apr 10, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Petitions, Protest, Rates Increases, Taking Action

This petition is running on change.org and is titled “STOP HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL RATE...

OPINION: Speed bumps are a public emergency

Mar 31, 2024 | Article, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Emergency Services, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, News, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor When Hamilton City Council began its Waka...

Feb 9, 2024 | Article, Auckland City, Christchurch City, Cities, Council Spending, Dunedin City, Hamilton City, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, Official Information Act, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Tauranga City, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero, Wellington City

Common sense and experience would tell us that “traffic calming” measures, such as installing...

CANDIDATE OPINION: John McDonald

Feb 9, 2024 | Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Hostile Architecture, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Public Transport, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero

John McDonald’s Invited Opinion Piece [All candidates for the 2024 By-elections were invited...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Joan Shi

Feb 3, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Crime, Elections, Libraries and Museums, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Public Transport, Safety and Well-being, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Wellington City, Wellington Pukehῑnau/Lambton Ward 2024 By-election

Joan Shi’s Invited Opinion Piece [All candidates for the 2024 By-elections were invited to...

Dec 11, 2023 | Cities and Regions, Climate Change and Weather, Council Funding, Council Spending, Mode Shift, New Plymouth District, New Zealand Issues, News, Public Transport, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero

Authored by: Robin Martin Published on: 4 November 2023 Published by: RNZ Headline: Waka...

Stuff Article: Why are councils considering rates hikes of 25.5% and higher?

Dec 11, 2023 | Auckland City, Christchurch City, Cities and Regions, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Wellington City

Authored by: Erin Johnson Published on: 11 December 2023 Published by: Stuff Limited Headline: Why...

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