It’s a stressful time in local body politics

It has been great to read how well our city, our district and our region have been doing in gnarly old 2020. This is despite the mayor’s latest rather equivocal assessment from her desk.

Having succeeded in pushing through most of her key policies: city centre, check, Te Karearea komiti, check, Hundertwasser Arts Centre, check and Ma¯ori Wards ch, ch, ch, check . . . there is no great feeling of joy emanating from the throne at Forum North.

In fact local body politics in NZ is going through a bit of stressful time.

From Invercargill to the Far North and many points in between there is a whole lotta bickering going on.

Massey University public sector professor Dr Andy Asquith mentions, “a problem with the governance model. People within local government don’t seem to understand the model, and what their role actually is.”

Dr Asquith also mentions a lack of experience, with councillors not believing they do have a need for education, training and development, and accordingly don’t invest in it. Alongside that he mentions we need chief executives primarily, senior officers who are up to the job.

Dr Asquith is speaking to councils across the nation, not just up in Tai Tokerau.

However he brings up some interesting points.

Does Whanga¯rei District Council have a best practice governance model, or simply a modus operandi?

The mayor talks a lot about public consultation, but the invitations to contribute appear to be more along the shape of those shared spaces and where to put the footpaths.

Heavy duty items such as significant expense increases on pet projects, the introduction of standing committees and those Ma¯ori wards get pushed through pronto, whether we like it or not.

For instance what do we really know about Te Karearea, its specific goals, financial statements, personalities involved? Just how connected are the mayor and council with the general ratepaying public?

Do they see themselves as the arbiters of local body policy, or democratically elected representatives fulfilling the aspirations of their constituents?

GM Tinker Whanga¯rei

Why so long?

I would like to ask why Maunu Rd in Whanga¯rei was closed for five hours on November 23. Many hospital workers arrived at work late because of this. Does it really take so long for a crash site to be examined? Leslie Lamb Whanga¯rei

Uneasy about direction

I’ve noticed quite a debate on the question of Ma¯ori wards and can’t help but be somewhat uneasy about our country’s direction as it drifts deeper into divisive racial politics.

I used to enjoy writing the occasional short play and decided to enter a competition held by a Wellington based organisation. To my surprise there was a category — ‘best play written by a woman’. But no category — ‘best play written by a man’. My immediate reaction was indignation. After all, did they consider that women stood less chance of success when competing against men? Let’s give the poor dears some encouragement eh?

And so it is with Ma¯ori. Continually being treated as though they’re incapable of competing with nonMa¯ori is patronising and undermining. Ma¯ori, proportion wise, are already well represented in government and have proved

themselves more than capable. Isn’t it time to phase out this ‘special treatment’ attitude?

Incidentally, this same competition also had a category — best play written by a Ma¯ori author. No comment.

Carole Harris Whanga¯rei