Word from our Mayor Kirsten Wise
Kia ora koutou.
We are heading into a pivotal time in the council calendar. Like all councils around New Zealand, we are having big discussions about rates for the coming year. Costs across the board have ballooned in areas like labour, materials and insurance. Where we currently stand, we have brought the projected rates need down from above 40% to the low 20s. It’s meant tough decisions, and careful management of projects, expectations and resourcing. Throughout, we need to keep our community ‘front and centre’ in our thinking.
As much as we can do a lot of work with prioritising and planning, we need your voice to be heard in this process. We want your views, and we need to listen to what is important to you. Getting involved in consultation can sound daunting. But it is an essential part of democracy. The process is actually fairly simple and I encourage you to be part of it.
Broken down to its smallest parts, it looks like this:
1. Soon a summary of the draft Three-Year Plan will arrive in your letterbox
2. You can ask us questions about the draft by coming along to our drop-in sessions
3. You can also attend our public meeting
4. You can ask questions of your ward councillor
5. Make your submission to the draft plan
6. In May, attend the ‘Hearings’ if you would like, either to hear submissions from others or speak in support of your own submission.
It can be tempting to use channels like Facebook and Letters to the Editor to give us your opinions. I keep abreast of what’s being said in the media and on social media, but views expressed there can’t be counted as official feedback and can’t be used in making decisions.
What counts are submissions and these can be done quickly and simply through SayitNapier.nz online. We also have hard-copies available at our libraries in Taradale and Napier City, and at the Customer Service Centre on Hastings Street in Napier CBD. Every submission is read and every submission counts. Once you’ve submitted your thoughts you will have the opportunity to come and speak to the full Council. This part of the process is called Hearings. It is really helpful for us as elected representatives to hear directly from you, our community.
As we begin the Three-Year Plan process, please consider getting involved. We work for you, and to do our best work we rely on having your voice at the heart of decision making.
Napier's Three-Year Plan is currently being prepared. Formal feedback on the proposed plan takes place through community consultation from 25 March to 26 April on sayitnapier.nz. More details about the consultation and how you can have your say will be in the next issue of Proudly Napier. The Three-Year Plan 2024-27 will be formally adopted by Council no later than 30 June 2024.