Grey Power has serious concern that the ‘run away’ inflation of Local Government rates in recent years, in terms of impact on low to median income households has exceeded all reasonable measurements of fairness, equity and, indeed; affordability.

The ‘four well-beings’ provision in the Local Government Act 2002 requires Local Government to establish ‘affordability parameters’ in long term and annual planning procedures, not only for council activities but also for rating revenue impacting on households. Councils have the legislative power to adjust the proportionate impact of rating on households to ensure the affordability principle is not breached.

Councils have not conscientiously employed this legislated safeguard. Effectively, while elected to represent low to median income households, whether property owners or renters: the financial security of such people has been compromised to favour development and economic growth.

Over the many decades since the early 1980’s when Local Government began its divestment of internal planning and works teams and pursued its obligations through contracting via ‘public and private’ partnerships; ‘community outcomes’ in terms of ‘value for money’ and ‘delivery of public services’ have markedly deteriorated.

Councils and the Mayors who have led them have not demonstrated any sustained devotion to ‘leadership’ of a ‘people first’ orientation sufficient to reverse this undesirable social degradation.

This statement is derived from research based on anecdotes our vulnerable families are telling us. They identify the core contributing factors which are leading to rapid deterioration of public confidence in local government and, for that matter, central government’s failure to adequately resource it.

Readers who are Grey Power members together with their families and neighbours will shortly be faced with the responsibility of electing a new Council. Do not vote too soon. Take the opportunity to hear the emerging issues to form an impression of the likely ‘character’ of the council emerging and then, importantly, the best candidate to lead it.

The Local Government team we choose must have the character to resist ‘capture’ by developer interests and it must begin to prioritise people and families well-being.

Look for a candidate who:

1. In the legitimate interests of lower-income households, campaigns for central government funding of the ‘growth’ component in capital costs of infrastructural assets and treatment charges for ‘safe’ drinking water.
2. Identifies an acceptable solution to the unsustainable ‘user charges’ on essential public services which government requires vulnerable households to bear at proportions far exceeding traditional benchmarks.
3. Undertakes to inform communities of the adverse implications of legislative reforms and is prepared to facilitate and lead ‘public interest’ deputations to government ministries.

Grey Power Upper Hutt is making this statement to acquaint all candidates with the attributes sought from those who advance to represent their community for the next triennium.

Our monthly meeting to be held on Wednesday 17th September will provide an opportunity to hear Mayoral Candidates’ responses to our ‘public interest’ expectations.

Authorised by:

Lew Rohloff

Vice President
Grey Power Upper Hutt Association

A “thank you” to Lew Rohloff for sending this letter to The Upper Hutt Connection.

01/09/25