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Making an informed decision the first time
You could be forgiven for thinking that the interminable meetings the ORC are having about their LWRP are a skirmish between environmental white knights and evil environmental vandals,
Both Sides Now
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Being eagle-eyed and doing one’s job
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Being eagle-eyed and doing one’s job
The Dunedin City Council has every right to have "eagle eyes over every cent" (as is suggested in the ODT 20.7.24).
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An agreement we can agree to disagree on
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An agreement we can agree to disagree on
Defining what the Treaty of Waitangi means to all of us collectively seems like the Mt Everest of tasks.
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Unrealistic surmises and the real world
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Unrealistic surmises and the real world
If disappointment is the gap that exists between expectation and reality, we are setting ourselves up for some serious disappointments.
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Consultation is key to nobody listening
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Consultation is key to nobody listening
Consultation by local councils and government is now an expensive waste of time and money.
Battle over place of tikanga is looming
Battle over place of tikanga is looming
Parliament and the courts are heading for a confrontation around the place of the Treaty and the place of tikanga.
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Plain talk needed to assess achievement
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Plain talk needed to assess achievement
It is no surprise that charter schools are on the agenda again.
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Whatever it was for, it was not for water
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Whatever it was for, it was not for water
As the government moves on from Three Waters it is time for a review of the nitty gritty of what actually happened in Otago under the proposal.
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Do we really need a regional council?
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Do we really need a regional council?
Suggestions for reducing rates so far have just been tinkering.
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Public servants should stay neutral
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Public servants should stay neutral
We need to be able to trust advice from public servants, particularly in local government where the systems can be less rigorous and the politicians less knowledgeable.
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Cry me a river would likely be as effective
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Cry me a river would likely be as effective
The Otago Regional Council continues to fight with the government about how to look after freshwater in Otago.
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Consider making mess-makers pay
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Consider making mess-makers pay
It is time we started holding organisations accountable for their role in the effects of natural disasters.
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A day at the races with ratepayers’ money
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A day at the races with ratepayers’ money
Imagine you have just won the lottery and $13.2 million has landed in your pockets.
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Changing words not solving problems
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Changing words not solving problems
The problem of not knowing what government departments are for is not because they have Māori names.
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Quality of water more important than flow
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Quality of water more important than flow
The Manuherikia river is many things to many people.
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You have all been marvellous
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You have all been marvellous
It seems to have been a year of dropping standards, difficulties with core government services and a feeling that we may have gone backwards.
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What do we know about your journey
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What do we know about your journey
You may think something that takes between a-third and a-half of council resources would be worth ratepayers having a say about.
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Virtue is its own reward, so DIY
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Virtue is its own reward, so DIY
Councils are increasingly tempted into trying to be virtuous on our account.
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Water reform bid doomed from start
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Water reform bid doomed from start
It is hardly surprising the incoming coalition partners all want to repeal the Three Waters reforms.
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Yes, democracy is expensive, but that is because it is worth it
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Yes, democracy is expensive, but that is because it is worth it
Democracy requires free and fair elections.