Councils Holding the Country to Ransom

[Bob Kane]

Those billion trees that will be planted - I suppose we could just plant a million trees and then pull them out and plant them again and again and again.
Technically, a billion trees have be planted and we didn't have to walk very far to do it.

[Perry]

How to Blow $21k of Ratepayers' Money
17 May 2018

Read and weep.

Van Steensel said he was shocked at the money spent, but even more surprised because the day after Archie was confiscated, he had offered to take him back and euthanise him before the council sought legal advice.

"After researching dog control laws and other cases I saw in almost all similar cases the dog was put down. I didn't want Archie suffering in the pound for months and then killed by a stranger. It seemed a better idea to bring him home to say goodbye to his family," van Steensel said. "We also said we didn't want the issue to be an unnecessary burden on ratepayers."

The council refused his offer because they had decided to pursue a prosecution of van Steensel under section 57 of the Dog Control Act. They then informed van Steensel their lawyers would contact him.

One can't help but wonder if there was a bit of nepotism involved.

[eri]

hmmm...

auckland council seem to be setting their sites on airbnb operators who commericaly let their residential properties

letters are being sent out to owners asking how many nights a year properties are let out via
online accommodation providers( airbnb, bookabach etc)

up to 28 nights a yr................ok stay on residential rates

29 -135 nights, rates will charged as 75% residential - 25% business

>135 nights, 100% will change to business rates

you are to email them and let them know

presumably a new compliance unit has been set up to monitor websites and change the rating status

https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/...eted-rate.aspx

but mainly seems to affect central city only?

A
Albert-Eden, Devonport-Takapuna, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Maungakiekie-Tāmaki, Ōrākei and Waitematā
Higher

B
Henderson-Massey, Hibiscus and Bays, Howick, Kaipātiki, Manurewa, Ōtara- Papatoetoe, Puketāpapa, Upper Harbour, Waiheke and Whau
Lower

C
Franklin, Great Barrier, Papakura, Rodney and Waitakere Ranges
No charge

[Shalodge]

If you want to know why Council resource consents and building permits cost so much and cause high house build costs.. have a look at this:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/104021655/tauranga-council-broke-own-rules-in-bella-vista

You will note that despite a 'cowboy' developer and equally incompetent builders actually causing the problems the Tauranga CC and its ratepayers will probably end up footing the bill for this mess. That is because they accepted and believed producer statements and failed to get peer reviews done on geotech etc. In other words they believed the developer and builders and didn't commission expensive peer reviews and carry out more inspections during the building process.

I can assure you all that as a result of this shambles the cost of building a new house will go up even more as every single building application will be peer reviewed and double checked at the applicants cost.

[Don't believe the Hype]

If you want to know why Council resource consents and building permits cost so much and cause high house build costs.. have a look at this:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/104021655/tauranga-council-broke-own-rules-in-bella-vista

You will note that despite a 'cowboy' developer and equally incompetent builders actually causing the problems the Tauranga CC and its ratepayers will probably end up footing the bill for this mess. That is because they accepted and believed producer statements and failed to get peer reviews done on geotech etc. In other words they believed the developer and builders and didn't commission expensive peer reviews and carry out more inspections during the building process.

I can assure you all that as a result of this shambles the cost of building a new house will go up even more as every single building application will be peer reviewed and double checked at the applicants cost.

are you suggesting that council did things right?

[Perry]

presumably a new compliance unit has been set up to monitor websites and change the rating status

Was it Vancouver that someone said had an entire council dept. (empire building) just for the purpose?

[flyernzl]

Basically the problem lies in the decision that was made to hold Local Authorities responsible for building quality.

Why should that be so?
They are not held responsible for the quality of cars, toasters, bicycles or shirts.

[Perry]

They are not held responsible for the quality of cars, toasters, bicycles or shirts.

Would that be because such things are not attached to the ground and don't require reticulation of assorted services?

[Bob Kane]

Basically the problem lies in the decision that was made to hold Local Authorities responsible for building quality.

Why should that be so?
They are not held responsible for the quality of cars, toasters, bicycles or shirts.

There might be a case if the building quality varied between areas of NZ - so each council would need to check that each house met the local standard.
But if we have a national standard for building quality then a national organisation could do all the checking - and take responsibility if they make mistakes and have to pay out on claims.
Meeting the cost of claims should be encouraging councils to get out of consenting work and letting a national body take over.

[flyernzl]

My understanding is that when you claim against the Council you are actually claiming against the Coucil's Insurance Company.

This then makes Councils micro-manage, as if they in any way breach the conditions of their insurance policy the insurance company denies the claim.

[Perry]

Cash Cow Crisis

Auckland City Council are at it, yet again.

Please explain!

[sidinz]

hmmm...

auckland council seem to be setting their sites on airbnb operators who commercially let their residential properties


presumably a new compliance unit has been set up to monitor websites and change the rating status

This will open a huge and costly can of worms for little return. It will not apply to shared homes, only those where the property is a dedicated Airbnb. What the boffins have failed to realise is that a very large proportion of ABB listings that refer to themselves as "entire space" are actually sleepouts and granny flats which can't legally be rented out under the RTA. The other properties that will be caught in the net are mixed use places. Baches and pied-a-terres which are rented out to defer costs when the owners are not there will suddenly become commercial properties.
If this sickness spreads it will start to threaten the decades-old tradition of renting someone's bach for a week for a good ol' Kiwi holiday.
In my case, I have had my home for 10 years now, but this year am working in Rotorua, going back regularly. Yet if I try to defray the costs of maintaining two residences by getting ABB income from one, I am liable to be stung with commercial rates.

Given that the justification for doing so is specious, the whole thing reeks.

[eri]

they're going after the money

and as even some couples on $100k pa can't seem to spend less than they earn

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/104269224/highpaid-families-feeling-the-squeeze

they are going after the savers + investors

of course this will cause some to take their money out of nz

and others to give up trying to get ahead

afterall we can all depend on our super

if we all complain loudly enough

about how UNFAIR it is that

savers + investors

have more

death of the saver

+ worker

by a thousand tiny taxes

[eri]

twyford now getting to the issue of nimbys - good

"If you don't want to have affordable housing or quality density housing in your neighbourhood, you go and live in Pokeno or Dairy Flat,"

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/pol...on-in-auckland

and the chow brothers of brothel fame?

now get into house building - also good

they're on a mission

[Bradley]

twyford now getting to the issue of nimbys - good

"If you don't want to have affordable housing or quality density housing in your neighbourhood, you go and live in Pokeno or Dairy Flat,"

The devil is in the detail. First we need to define the key terms: "affordable", "quality", and "density".