Councils Holding the Country to Ransom

[Wayne]

Here's the link to Bob Jones' article. Like always he calls a spade a spade: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-c...ectid=11321121

According to the accounts for Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki they pulled in $465k from RMA and LGA work - nice little earner.

[Davo36]

According to the accounts for Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki they pulled in $465k from RMA and LGA work - nice little earner.

Yep I see the accounts here: http://www.ngaitai-ki-tamaki.co.nz/d...NTKTTT2014.pdf

They paid out $292k in salaries from RMA income. Nice little earner alright.

[eri]

brown's council

over promises

over spends

+ over taxes

so over them

"Aucklanders could pay a new charge on top of rates to fund transport projects.

Mayor Len Brown is determined to start the first stage of the rail project in 2016, a $250 million cut-and-cover section of the link from Britomart, under the downtown shopping centre and up much of Albert St."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11331647

if we need these essential services so bad

then maybe it's time for len the supercity CFO

to cut some of the fiscally irresponsible 'free' pork being handing out

like gold card travel

kid's swimming pool visits

[speights boy]

If Aucklanders want unfettered growth and development for their city they can fund transport shortfalls themselves.
Many here call for the Central Govt to "butt out".
They should, and leave it to ratepayers to stump up the money.

[Wayne]

At least it won't show as a rate increase so Len can keep his promises.

[Wayne]

like gold card travel

Now that isn't the council's fault - that was Winny

[flyernzl]

Yes, Gold Card is funded by the taxpayer not the ratepayer.

[Maccachic]

I know their plan: increases charges for living in Auckland force people to move else, population problems solved.

[speights boy]

I know their plan: increases charges for living in Auckland force people to move else, population problems solved.

It can't yet be too expensive to live in Auckland.
There is cheap housing available elsewhere in the country which remains empty.
Yet we have WINZ funding to those unable to work which is still provided in order to live in Auckland.
The taxpayer will keeping paying these rents.....it's only "fair"

[PC]

JAFFAs pay 1/3 of the roading taxes - each time we buy petrol.
How come Auckland doesn't get 1/3 of the road building funds???

About time we did and the provinces can start paying their own way.
Especially those subsidised slackers in the S.I. (they really should give the next Aucklander they meet a hug!)

[Maccachic]

All those bridges,overpasses and expressways must be pretty expensive compared to a flat highway with low traffic? Don't Aucklander's flee the city any chance they get - you know via those provincial roads.

[Wayne]

How come Auckland doesn't get 1/3 of the road building funds???

You sure you don't?
Remember to include all the roads you JAFFAs use - including the ones you race down to get to the ski field!

[muppet]

Remember to include all the roads you JAFFAs use - including the ones you race down to get to the ski field!

Yep.
Cheap petrol in Tokoroa soon.
An unmanned Gull station is due to open soon.

[Davo36]

Yep.
Cheap petrol in Tokoroa soon.
An unmanned Gull station is due to open soon.

Too dangerous to have a person there?

[speights boy]

Bruce Morris: Nimbyism shows Kiwis won't accept their fate

If we're honest, there's a bit of Nimby in all of us.

We want hospitals, power stations, rubbish dumps and motorways, and we understand the need for state houses, jails and halfway houses. But not up the road or next door, thanks very much.

It's always been that way, and always will be. Hypocrisy? You could say that, but it's entirely understandable.

A 40-unit mix of state and privately owned housing, leaving some of the trees and grassed areas intact, would be acceptable to most.
But an 80-unit state housing development with the potential to change the face of a heritage neighbourhood of graceful 100-year-old bungalows - no matter how strong your social conscience, who would want that?

Nimbyism, when it means people who act as guardians for their community against forceful bureaucracy, has its place. Fortunately it is alive and well in Mt Albert.

www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11333611