Grey Power disputes assertions

Dan McGuire (Nelson Mail, February 2) made the statement: ‘‘Grey Power committee chairperson Christine Tuffnell supported an average 4 per cent increase in rates.’’ This is not true. Mr McGuire is referring to Nelson Grey Power’s submission on Nelson City Council’s Long Term Plan 2018-2028 consultation document.

Firstly, as president of Nelson Grey Power, I do not give my personal opinion in the submission. The submission, as with all submissions and policy statements , was circulated to and approved by the Nelson Grey Power committee. Our submission made strong statements about managing and reducing debt, including that ‘‘the planned reductions in council debt – from 2025 onwards is too little, too late’’.

And it continued: ‘‘Debt inevitably affects rating levels and we note that the rates cap continues to rise over the period of this 10-year plan, culminating in a 4.7 per cent rates cap by 2027/28. In our view the rates cap (note: rates cap is not the annual rate) should not exceed 4 per cent.’’

The consultation document stated that the rates cap was already 4 per cent for the 2018/19 year – so we were in effect saying – no increase. At no time have I ever said, or the Nelson Grey Power committee supported, an average 4 per cent increase in rates. These are Mr McGuire’s words entirely.

I have no idea what Mr McGuire is referring to when he says: ‘‘Grey Power was willing to support the spending aspirations of the current Mayor of Nelson, in return for minor concessions benefiting Stoke.’’

I did, on behalf of Nelson Grey Power committee and members, endeavour to negotiate with Kiwibank and NZ Post to stop the closure of Stoke Kiwibank, but this was in no way related to any spending aspirations of the mayor in return for minor concessions, and I strongly object to this innuendo.

Mr McGuire did seek to have one of his many letters about rates published in our Nelson Grey Power magazine. The letter was taken to the Nelson Grey Power committee in correspondence and the decision taken not to include it in our magazine. As Mr McGuire well knows, Nelson Grey Power does welcome all member views. I asked Mr McGuire to come on the committee prior to the previous AGM and he declined. Nelson Grey Power holds weekly coffee mornings to hear members’ views and issues and Mr McGuire has not attended these opportunities to participate.

Nelson Grey Power AGM for 2019 is Saturday, April 6, at 2pm at Stoke School. Remits need to be in by Friday, March 8, and nominations for president, secretary, treasurer and committee need to be in to Grey Power Office by Monday, March 18.

Nelson Grey Power president

Guardians of Ma¯ ori culture sometimes give the impression that all things Ma¯ ori are off-limits.