Treaty research
Richard Bedford, President of the Royal Society, is deluded (31/3/18) if he thinks that there are any ‘‘researchers’’ responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi’’, a simple document which said in essence only that the chiefs ceded sovereignty completely and for ever to the Queen and all Maoris (including their many slaves) received the rights of the people of England. Again, he refers to ‘‘Aotearoa New Zealand’’.
He should try looking for ‘‘Aotearoa’’ in Te Tiriti. His ignorance of that document is profound. I despair for science under his leadership. repair Airlie St in the Glen after the recent storm.
When one considers the enormous rate increases since she came to council 13 years ago, the huge increase in debt as well, where has the money gone?
Most of it has been spent on an ad hoc basis to fund political patronage. Essential infrastructure has suffered and continues to suffer, with staff denying that the infrastructure is in poor condition.
Nelson council, and the Mayor, have no intention of addressing this issue. In a recent interview, the Mayor stated that upgrading of infrastructure would occur over the next 10 years, but that this could be stretched to twenty years. Council obtained its resource consent to continue flushing sewage into the Haven for 20 years because it has no intention of spending the required money on the sewerage system.
Whose interests do the mayor and councillors represent? Certainly not those of the ratepayers. Councillors have spent many hours in "public excluded" workshops and meetings.
The Agenda for the meetings include subjects such as: future of Tahuna Beach Holiday Camp, future of Nelmac, Greenmeadows budget, School of Music... the list goes on.
If the public had been allowed to attend it may have delayed decisions. If the public had been allowed to attend the discussion of Nelmac’s future, the council may have been informed that Nelmac’s performance will not improve until they are given more council funding which will enable them to purchase modern equipment, and hire more staff.
Maybe before their next meeting, the Mayor and councillors should take a drive up Marsden Valley Rd, noting the long grass alongside Poormans stream, then visit Marsden Valley Cemetery. As they drive on the left of the Returned Services area, they will find loose gravel, traffic cones, broken seal and crumbling sandbags which have been there since a small drain over-flowed. They may also notice the ugly weeds growing. What an eye-opener a drive can turn out to be.