Tēnā koutou katoa

Greetings to you all

Over the past months councillors have been reflecting on some key strategic priorities for Tararua focused on community issues, opportunities and challenges. We have been consulting on some of these and it has been heartening to see parts of our community actively interested in the long-term thinking presented. It is understandable many in the community expect Council to get on with the job, fixing roads, providing clean water, access to a library, and making sure our parks and grounds are well cared for.

The impact of wider reforms has had a significant effect on some of our thinking but as a Council we have been quite pragmatic in our approach this year recognising there are issues to sort, which can't afford to wait. We are in the best position to know how to do that.

The strategies and by-laws communicated in our consultation expos, our Bush Telegraph page and on our website will allow Council to plan in advance plus introduce some teeth into our regulatory framework. In many workshops over the past months Council has been presented with a wide range of options with impacts and long-term consequences. We advocate and consider on behalf of our ratepayers and now is the time to conduct a sense-check on the people it affects . . . you. Many of the people I have spoken with are keen to follow the principles behind Henry Ford's approach to strategy: Don’t find fault, find a remedy. That is the value in taking the time to prepare a submission to let us know your views.

We are aware the proposed rates increase is going to be tough on our community. Around the Council table there have been serious discussions on the need to address a number of years of under-investment on key infrastructure assets and the impact increased regulatory compliance is having. Strategy is not only about planning for what we should do in the future, it is also figuring out what not to do. One benefit of hearing from our community at this time is to determine what we should stop doing so we can meet the rate level expectations of our ratepayers. Submissions are still open and we as councillors want to hear your views.

Noho ora mai.

Sharon Wards - Councillor