Councils can’t identify spending cuts
May 29, 2009
To its credit, as part of its overall budget exercise, the National Government managed to find $2 billion in concrete spending cuts and savings over the next four years, enabling them to re-direct these funds into alternative priorities. To document this, it published a list of the specific cuts and amounts saved.
I wouldn’t agree with [...]
22,000 Hastings citizens flock to dog hearing
May 27, 2009
In a tremendous demonstration of citizen participation, an estimated 22,000 Hastings residents turned out for a public meeting yesterday on dog control.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” exclaimed Mayor Yule, “This is twice the number of people that voted for me in the last election. I want them to know I feel their anxiety. No [...]
Democracy … you gotta luv it!
May 26, 2009
Democracy … from two Greek words meaning “people” and “rule”. Separately these words are benign enough. But put them together and watch out!
Democracy is playing out in amusing ways in each of our local councils these days.
In Hastings on Wednesday, the Council will spend hours at a session devoted entirely to listening to submitters discuss [...]
Dare they cooperate?
May 25, 2009
In their draft ten-year plans (LTCCPs), the Hastings, Napier and Regional Councils each display the same chart touting the various initiatives on which they, plus the Wairoa and CHB Councils, have collaborated or are currently working on together.
Nevertheless, more cynical council-watchers might say that this synchronized communication itself is in fact one of the most [...]
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