What's Up
What's Up is all about........
What's Up and What's not Up.
We will attempt to keep you informed about 'What's Up' at Council's, but please remember, we report things as we see them.
Caution: Some may not like my style.
We only write about these issues and what we are seeing.
If it is positive, that is how it will be written, if it's negative, well that is how you will get it. The tone of these articles will depend on how the orchestra plays the tune. These articles will be short as we will be busy creating our own music.
Remember.......Don't shoot the messenger.
You are most welcome to contribute to, or confirm or deny, if you feel any of these articles are incorrect. A great deal of effort is made to ensure these articles are accurate.
Any queries in relation to this article hopefully will be answered by reading the agenda online.
Any queries, corrections or comments? I ask people to please contact me.
LINK to Northland Regional Council meeting agendas.
LINK to Whangarei District Council meeting agendas.
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NRC Regional Transport Committee meeting -1st February 2012. NZTA has a change of heart over drivers licencing testing in some parts of Northland. Bay of Islands Airport now appears to get some support from Far North District Council who are pledging $165,000-00 per year for 5 years and also the same hoped for from Northalnd Regional Council, for upgrades to go ahead at the airport.
Whangarei District Council meeting - 21st December 2011. A full public gallery for the festivities of Christmas? No! Is it a full public gallery of placard weilding disgruntled farmers from Hikuranigi Swamp area voicing their concerns about their festering flood protection scheme and its management? Merry Xmas, drive safely and look forward to a great 2012.
Whangarei District Council Finance and Support Committee meeting - 21st December 2011. Debt now at $150million. A councillor queries about a company involved in Sustaianable Maori Economic Development. Did he know it was the mayors neighbour?
Whangarei District Council District Living Committee meeting - 14th December 2011. Some councillors are prepared to be directed by senior staff and others have minds of their own as the debate hots up for the residents of Gomez Road as the Motor Sports Park decision process, unfolds.
Whangarei District Council Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting - 14th December 2011. Former local Hikurangi identity Yvonne Stewart is remembered as the 'Yvonne Stewart Track' is named in her memory around Lake Waro.
Northland Regional Council meeting - 13th December 2011. 'Mums' the word in the NEST; so is it out to public consultation in the next Long Term Plan, with hopefully more transparency for the funders of the operation and about 'who' gets paid 'what', if the funding is to continue?
NRC Regional Transport Committee meeting - 7th December 2011. Plenty of question time for High Risk Rural Road strategy, Asset Management Planning on State Highways and Restricted Driver Licence Testing but no question time available for questions on the Lower Hatea River Bridge project! 'Why' not and 'Who' wanted it that way? Think about it. Who was really Chairing this meeting? Surely not the Puppeteers?
Whangarei District Council meeting - 23rd November 2011. With the 'debt rollercoaster' spiralling out off control, with no brakes being applied, can we afford the Hundetwasser $13.7million, the Town Basin Landscaping $3.2mill and the Cameron Mall extension $4.3mill? Are you the ratepayer, going to foot the bill of unruly financial management by council?
Whangarei District Council Finance and Support Committee meeting - 23rd November 2011. Debt now at $157million. Cr Syers claims $135million was only a 'target' for debt, not 'policy'. Rugby stadium required an extra top up of $171,000-00 for 1st year short fall. Bring on another RWC, to bail us out?
Northland Regional Council meeting - 15th November 2011. Enquiry by Price Waterhouse Cooper, for 'Due Diligence' into NEST funding, is revealed. Are there concerns about whose NEST is being feathered? A Public meeting between NEST Trustees and Council is to be arranged if future funding is required to continue, for Northland Emergency Services Trust.
Whangarei District Council District Living Committee meeting - 9th November 2011. Certificate presented to WDC by RWC for their effort during the two matches held in Whangarei. But no mention of the $27million plus, it has cost the regions ratepayers, for a few in power to get their 5 minutes fame and Council to get this certificate.
Whangarei District Council Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting - 9th November 2011. New Democracy and Legal Services in-house counsel, Kathryn Candy has been appointed. Take note, it looks like she's the girl for OIA requests.
Whangarei District Council meeting - 26th October 2011. The Lower Hatea Bridge gets the go ahead with another $29million spend, increasing our already over budget debt; but no one has explained why the NZTA subsidy was dropped from 63% to 50% costing the ratepayers another $3.7million. Was this just to rush it through? Why? Cr Edwards, was the only one, as always promised, to vote against it.
Whangarei District Council Finance and Support Committee meeting - 26th October 2011. Northland Regional Council Community Trust (NRCCT) looks to mayoral forum for leadership guidance.
NRC Environmental Management Committee meeting -25th October 2011. Northland is prepared for Oil Spill Response and Enviroschools Northland Possum Project. See Link for Possums.
Northland Regional Council meeting - 18th October 2011. Airport needs to be saved at Kaitaia while Kerikeri Airport needs investment for larger aircraft. Light at end of tunnel hopefully for Northlands Rail line.
Whangarei District Council Environment Committee meeting - 12th October 2011. Link to Agenda. - Unfortunately I was unable to atend todays meetings as we were shearing 170 plus alpacas over Wednesday and Thursday.
Whangarei District Council Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting - 12th October 2011. Link to Agenda. - Unfortunately I was unable to atend todays meetings as we were shearing 170 plus alpacas over Wednesday and Thursday. It would have been most interesting to see if Cr John Williamson commented or spoke on items 4,5 & 6 'parking and no stopping lines' as he has a lack of understanding on this subject.
NRC Regional Transport Committee meeting - 5th October 2011.
Person delegated to investigate for new business for continuance of rail usage in Northland. Public meeting Tuesday 11th Oct - Forum North for Rail.
Whangarei District Council meeting - 28th September 2011. From an auctioneer, to a mayor, to a traveller and now a Prophet. But wait....... there is more; he now has '4 advisors'. All can be revealed in this exciting episode of Morries Message.
Whangarei District Council Finance and Support Committee meeting - 28th September 2011. Debt now at $147million plus internal borrowing. Strange the new reports don't make the amount look any less.
Northland Regional Council meeting - 20th September 2011. A confidentiality agreement between PricewaterhouseCoopers and NEST for a 'due diligence' report! Why? Ratepayers money is being used, what are they not willing to expose?
Whangarei District Council Environment Committee meeting - 14th September 2011. Tikipunga Community Safe initiative created by a community that cares and WDC CEO Simpson acknowledges this. They propose to keep Whangarei Falls safe, clean and inviting for our visitors and local citizens.
Whangarei District Council Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting - 14th September 2011. The Deputy Mayor, Cr Phil Halse wants to see more and more vehicles on State Highway One with no mention of Rail; so does that confirm he is really off the rails and not on track?
Whangarei District Council meeting - 24th August 2011. Read how the public forum is used to denegrate a previous speaker. Learn that one councillor thinks $600,000-00 is minuscule. Is retaining Whangarei Top 10 Holiday Park just a smokescreen for bigger property sales that may be about to fall on the sword, masquerading as good consultation process and listening to the people.
Whangarei District Council Finance and Support Committee meeting - 24th August 2011. Financial Reports to be made simpler to understand in the future. What is hard to understand about a $147million debt?
NRC Environmental Management Committee meeting - 23rd August 2011. Check how the Environmental Reports need an update on progress and whether prosecutions are underway for failing to comply.
Northland Regional Council meeting - 16th August 2011. Kauri are vunerable to PTA (phytophthora taxon agathis) or kauri dieback in Northland. NRC plans to investigate the situation, to protect our natural beauty. Plus; who does really own our roads?
Whangarei District Council Environment Committee meeting - 10th August 2011. Deputy Mayor Phil Halse claims there are some 'serious decisions' coming and 'they didn't want to be dictated to by Wellington'. Does he now know what 'that' feels like?
Whangarei District Council Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting - 10th August 2011. E waste comes to town, at a cost, so why all the fuss refusing someone to speak on it at last months Public Forum? Cause they can, it's the culture.
NRC Regional Transport Committee meeting - 3rd August 2011. - A new airport for Northland to enable Australia quick access to Bay of Islands? Rail being promoted for Northlands future by a working group.
Whangarei District Council meeting - 27th July 2011. Read how a ratepayer's mouth is zipped up and prevented from speaking in a political arena during a public forum with some e-waste left behind.
Whangarei District Council Finance and Support Committee meeting - 27th July 2011. Questions that become a little sensitive are merely now classed as 'coding errors' and staff go to great lengths to try to convince enquirers.
Northland Regional Council meeting - 19th July 2011. NEST funding a step closer to being scrutinised by close inspection of the institution finances. The service itself is top notch but some questions remain unanswered. Kaitaia Bus Service in limbo awaiting funding from ?
Whangarei District Council Environment Committee meeting - 13th July 2011. Read how an 'old hand' councillor speaks out about the professional opinion of a Council Manager and his own, are of equal standing.
Whangarei District Council Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting - 13th July 2011. The attempt to have an ammendment to an item on the agenda calling for a feasability study into commercial recycling met with resistance from Deputy Mayor. Why?
Whangarei District Council meeting - 22nd June 2011. There is obviously still some 'spunk in the boots' of a veteran councillor as he votes against the Annual Plan because he claims that 'policies are not being adhered to'.
Whangarei District Council Finance and Support Committee meeting - 22nd June 2011. Councillor accused of having a 'conflict of interest' with an item on the agenda. Read all about in in this issue of 'Syers says'.
Northland Regional Council meeting - 21st June 2011. Without the blink of an eye and in less than 1 minute your NRC rate component has increased by at least 15% in most cases. No one voted against it.
NRC Environmental Management Committee meeting - 21st June 2011. Check the agenda and see how the Whangarei Heads Landcare Group and the Integrated Kaipara Harbour Management Group are making in-roads to enhance our natural environment.
Whangarei District Council Environment Committee meeting - 8th June 2011. The latest Customer Satisfaction Survey is out. As one councillor said 'we are still looking at a 2/3 satisfaction rate'. Check my comments regarding the visit to the dog pound we are still waiting for since asking and being refused in October 2009 by Mr Dell, due to 'pending upgades'.
NRC Regional Transport Committee meeting - 8th June 2011. - Link to Agenda. Unfortunately I was unable to attend this meeting as its timing coincided with the WDC Environment meeting. This meeting had changed from 1st June to 8th due to a Transport meeting in Auckland Super City. When I phoned NRC in regard to the timing, they apologised for the inconvenience.
Whangarei District Council Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting - 8th June 2011. They are now talking more about Wastewater inflows. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see this and infiltration are both the major contributing factors to our waste water issues. Get teams out there doing the tests needed.
Whangarei District Council meeting - 25th May 2011. Read about the big turnaround in council's viewpoint on rail in the Public Forum link. Is there to be a genuine public consultation about the Hundertwasser Art Centre, or is it a done deal? Are there any other options, if so where are they? Cr Edwards is asking the same question.
Whangarei District Council Finance and Support Committee meeting - 25th May 2011. Apparently $39million of property sales have occurred. What were they, why, where and to who? Or aren't the ratepayers on a 'need to know' basis?
Northland Regional Council meeting - 17th May 2011. A Councillor seeks 'due diligence' on the funding of NEST (Northland Emergency Services Trust) Rescue Helicopter, while others believe some facts deemed important, are witheld from the public of Northland.
Whangarei District Council Extra-ordinary meeting - 11th May 2011. Marriage celebrant back in town, make your booking now for a stress free rendition of 3 weddings and a funeral.
Whangarei District Council Environment Committee meeting - 11th May 2011. Isnt it a bad sign when an ongoing sign issue continuues to rear its ugly head again. The wheels of power turn slowly, or are they in reverse?
Whangarei District Council Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting - 11th May 2011. CBD & Kamo parking time restriction changes and will the parking in Railway Road be too far for the CBD users but nice & close for the stadium?
Whangarei District Council meeting - 27th April 2011. Fireworks erupt as the mayors increase was discussed. News Flash: One councillor boldly went against two major projects which are going to increase our already exorbitant debt.
Whangarei District Council Finance and Support Committee meeting - 27th April 2011. Is the debt only $160,000-00. Be nice if it was, it was a 'typo error' that had temporarily covered the truth. Have a read and you will see what a 9 minute meeting is really about.
NRC Environmental Management Committee meeting - 26th April 2011. Learn how some Councillors are demanding action over sewerage treatment and not before time. And learn how some continue to drag the chain.
Northland Regional Council meeting - 19th April 2011. An interesting presentation by Department of Conservation on the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement.
Whangarei District Council Environment Committee meeting - 13th April 2011. GE Free Northland win their long fought battle on GE. Read how the councillors played to the audience.
Whangarei District Council Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting - 13th April 2011. See how Transfer Station fees have increased. I thought we were under the impression that there would be savings on refuse with the joint ownership of the new landfill instead of carting rubbish to Auckland. Or have we been deceived?
NRC Regional Transport Committee meeting - 6th April 2011.
Looks like they may have found a need for Rail in Northland. And who may be standing as a candidate for National in Northland?
Whangarei District Council meeting - 23rd March 2011. Were we asked to join the Local Government Funding Agency because we are a council with large debt?
Whangarei District Council Finance and Support Committee meeting - 23rd March 2011. Is the debt really at $150million? That equates to $1875-00 for each and every one of us. Is this acceptable? What do you think.
Northland Regional Council meeting - 15th March 2011. Will there be a targeted rate for Project Promise? If not, will the compulsory funding for the helicopter also STOP?
Whangarei District Council Environment Committee meeting - 9th March 2011. Contract for Regulatory Services (Animal Control, Noise, Parking and now swimming pool inspections) extended for 3 months allowing more time (rather than the 5 days previously allowed) for WDC staff to wade through all the tenders received for the new contract.
Whangarei District Council Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting - 9th March 2011. See how many painted 'No Stopping' lines are being allocated to Whangarei in a drive to make the Road Code obsolete and will this keep the traffic flowing? If the traffic cant stop, it has to flow!
Whangarei District Council meeting - 23rd February 2011. Find out the Councillors who don't like 'Notice of Motion' (Does this mean they don't like open public debate to enhance transparancy and inform the citizens?)
Whangarei District Council Finance and Support Committee meeting - 23rd February 2011. Alan Adcock, Group Manager Support Services states "No property sales are putting pressure on our debt" Has anyone heard about cutting wasteful spending? Maybe this will also reduce debt.
Northland Regional Council Environmental Management Committee meeting - 22nd February 2011. - Sorry no report. I was unable to attend this meeting due to a clash of meetings, but Click for Agenda to be informed as to what was to be discussed.
Northland Regional Council meeting - 15th February 2011. The public gallery had a gathering of placard weilding residents carrying messages to council about Petroleum Exploration and the potential of 'Effects on the Environment' by these processes.
Whangarei District Council Environment Committee meeting - 9th February 2011. The chair spoke by commenting that they "needed to not be draconian but be fair and reasonable"
Whangarei District Council Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting - 9th February 2011. See how $0.25million of your money is spent in less than 1 minute.(Item No 5)
NRC Regional Transport Committee meeting - 2nd February 2011.
Sorry no report, as I was unable to attend this meeting through illness, but Click for Agenda to be informed as to what was to be discussed.
Northland Regional Council meeting - 25th January 2011. The old "same old same old" is under review by new faces on council. Some new faces want reviews of policies and proceedures and definately are watching for any possibility of Conflicts of Interest.
Whangarei District Council meeting - 15th December 2010. Expressions of differing concerns voiced in Public Forums. Much debate over CBD Town Basin changes & Elected Member Remuneration. New turf for Hockey at Kensington Park.
Whangarei District Council Finance and Support Committee meeting - 15th December 2010. Council needs better returns on its properties. Outstanding debts on leases.
Whangarei District Council Environment Committee meeting - 8th December 2010. - GOMEZ SEZ NOMEZ - Gomez Road residents say 'No mess' with them while attending a council meeting, up in arms at councils proposed Outdoor Recreation Park and lack of consultation with them in regards to it. As local neighbouring residents dont they have a say in the early stages?
Whangarei District Council Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting - 8th December 2010. Funding for BMX Supercross World Cup and will it eat into any funding for Hikurangi Motorsport and Outdoor Recreation Park?
Northland Regional Council meeting - 7th December 2010. Committees are formed and an 'oldy' gets "Youth Education" portfolio.
Whangarei District Council meeting - 24th November 2010. The first public forum is interupted by faulty timer. Appointments of Committees and some go into confidential.
Whangarei District Council Finance and Support Committee meeting - 24th November 2010. No financial statements for CCO Northland Regional Landfill Limited Partnership !!!!!
Northern Regional Council meeting - 16th November 2010. Commissioners seems to be touchy subject, or is it just a chance to have a dig?
Whangarei District Council Infrastructure and Services Committee meeting - 10th November 2010. Why can't $207,000-00 be spent on footpaths? Because unaminously they all voted for a bridge, the one Morris was going to stop. Yeah Right!
Whangarei District Council Environment Committee meeting - 10th November 2010. Food gradings are improving but 'Independence' of Commissioner hearings could come at a price.
Whangarei District Council meeting - 27th October 2010. An insight to the first meeting of the new term of council. Top marks for a great official and entertaining morning session.
Click for proof of Porky 1 (coming soon)
Click to verify for proof of Porky2
Click for audio proof of Porky 2
Northland Reginal Council meeting - 26th October 2010. An insight to the first meeting of the new term of NRC. Link to Northern Advocate article.
'Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote'
~ George Jean Nathan
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