Mayor's Newsletter - 16 November 2021

December has landed with a bang.  

I am often asked about whether there is a disparity between what we spend in Dargaville and Mangawhai, our two largest towns in Kaipara. Earlier this month I met with a group of Dargaville business owners and we talked about that.

A key focus of conversations around the council table recently has been the review of our Revenue and Financing Policy. 

Every day, as I pass, I look to see what progress has been made on the shared path and the new wooden bridge. I like to check it out and see how it’s taking shape.

Last month we adopted the Long Term Plan (LTP), and it is now up on the council website (printed copies available soon). If you haven’t had a chance to have a read yet, head along to www.kaipara.govt.nz/ltp and check it out. The LTP outlines our plans for the next three years, the services we will provide, the projects we will undertake, the cost of doing this work and how it will be paid for.

The Kaipara roading network has always been a hot topic of mine. It is a core council service and recently we have taken a magnifying glass to it so we can improve how we deliver it for Kaipara.

The blanket power cuts for Northland at the end of last week were a good reminder to check our household supplies and make sure we were all well prepared for events like these. 

I am the proud patron of The Daring Trophy. The trophy is awarded to children who each year achieve noteworthy restoration of a sailing craft.

First of all I want to acknowledge the deeply sad news that one of our Council roading contractors was fatally injured in an accident whilst working last week. My thoughts are with their family, their work colleagues, and their friends.

I have to say, February has been a bonanza of celebrations and I have been attending all I can.

Last Tuesday I attended celebrations at Waitangi. It is some years since I have attended and it was good to reconnect with the events of the day.

The end of the year is certainly a time for reflection, and I have been doing plenty of that as we approach the summer break. It’s been a huge year for the Council and for all of us here in Kaipara District. 

It’s been fantastic to have so many locals engaging with Elected Members and Council staff at the recent market events. In the last month we’ve had stands at Mangawhai Tavern Market, Dargaville Community Market, and Maungaturoto Night Market. We also hosted a Dargaville Business Meet and Mingle in partnership with Dargaville Community Development Board.

This month I have been really enjoying this drier sunnier weather and the promise it’s bringing of a classic Northland summer. You can feel it in the air. Out and about, it’s been a month full of happenings.  

I said in my last message that I would be checking my bike and getting ready for the opening of the Mangawhai boardwalk soon. And true to my word, I did! 

I love hosting people in our beautiful district and I had the recent pleasure of welcoming the other Northland mayors down to Mangawhai for the Forward Together Forum (work programme for all four Northland Councils working together).

At the June Council Meeting the Annual Plan for 2023-204 was unanimously adopted, agreeing to an average general rates rise of 4.96 percent.

Firstly, a hearty warm welcome to our recently anointed citizens. I was proud to be part of the ceremony in Dargaville celebrating and recognising fourteen Kaipara residents of different nationalities.

We are on the tail end of what has been yet another significant weather event. We have seen a huge amount of rain again, soaking ground that is already saturated and filling rivers already high.

Plenty happening around the Council table. A Notice of Motion raised by Deputy Mayor Larsen to investigate options for a waste to energy plant was supported by Council

Already it is mid-April. Our delayed summer weather has brought a rush of visitors to the district recently, and we expect even more during this school holiday period. Welcome to you all.

There’s not much to say about the extreme weather events of last month that hasn’t already been said, so I’ll keep it short.

I am not sure anyone would have believed me had I said we would have to contend with another extreme weather event during the on-going aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle.

When you see the sun come out and the wind has dropped, it could be difficult to believe what we have experienced in the last few days.

In the early hours of this morning Awakino River on the northern outskirts of Dargaville breached its banks. 

This is the second State of Emergency for Northland in two weeks. Again, as a precautionary measure, the State of Emergency was called early so we could be well prepared for Cyclone Gabrielle before it hits.

It’s been a wild ride with the weather, with rain, rain and more rain. Kaipara is still feeling effects from the Auckland Anniversary weekend weather event.

As I write this, bouts of wind and rain are lashing the district. The La Nina weather pattern is certainly delivering a wet summer.

It’s been a busy month as the new Council gets its feet under the table. In November we agreed on the committee structures for the next three years, many of which remain the same from the previous triennium.

This is my first message as your Mayor. It is very humbling to be asked to represent you all. It’s a deep responsibility that I take seriously.

What a journey it’s been since I was elected to serve the people of Kaipara in 2018. Thank you to everyone who supported my vision for this place.

The long shadow of debt for Kaipara District Council has been a defining characteristic of the last decade. As at 30 June 2012 Council had internal loans of $83.4 million with the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme component of that internal debt at $58.5 million.

Trustworthiness is at the heart of Kaipara District Council, which aims to be “a trusted Council”.  It’s been a long journey back from the edge of local democracy and the Kaipara Commission during which time there were appointed Commissioners rather than locally-elected Councillors and a Mayor.

Busy times in recent weeks marked by exceptional moments have kept me well-occupied.

Success has come for Kaipara District Council at the recent AGM of Local Government New Zealand where our remit to limit and better regulate vape stores was voted upon

Nominations are now open for the election process for Mayor and Councillors of the next Kaipara District Council.  I am keen for Kaipara people to have many great candidates from whom to choose our next Council.

Big news in Kaipara is that Deputy Mayor Anna Curnow will not be seeking re-election at the upcoming Council elections.

Matariki marks the start of the new year on the Māori calendar, when the constellation of stars with that name appears in the sky and the new planting and growing season begins.

At the 25 May Kaipara District Council meeting the Exposure Draft of the Kaipara District Plan was discussed and a decision made to hold back on the official release and consultation of that “rule book” document.

Slashing next year’s rates by 2.27% looks to be on the cards for Kaipara District Council, following a Council Briefing last week where staff updated elected members on progress with the draft Annual Plan.

Complex problems for councils seldom come as neatly packaged as the “Better Off” funding which is part of the Three Waters Reforms.

Knocking off the big things as the season turns, daylight savings ends and the autumn equinox has passed, Kaipara District Council has just had confirmation the Mangawhai Central Private Plan Change has been resolved by all the concerned parties without the need for a costly Environment Court hearing.

Even lower expectations for KDC rates in the 2022-23 Annual Plan year, commencing 1 July, are now firmly on the cards as Council gets closer to its June finalisation of what will be in the Annual Plan. 

Getting clear results is a good thing, but when they’re excellent as well as clear then that’s simply great!

Future-focused energies for the finish of February are helping set up Kaipara District Council for a busy time ahead.

Covid Omicron case numbers are increasing across New Zealand and in other parts of Northland but not in Kaipara District.

Two years ago last week the Government started its rollout of the first responses to the Covid-19 coronavirus. We’ve been living in a pandemic since then.

Standing at the gate of the year, as I look ahead I see a colourful year for Kaipara District Council.

Taking a moment to reflect on the positive things from the year that’s coming to its end soon is my best advice for right now. Well, it’s what’s helping me get through.

Resilience and taking some time to breath easily are important for us all in the busiest few weeks of the year, starting now.

As November turns into December the pace of things quickens around the Kaipara.

As already reported, Government has mandated the Three Waters Reforms and there’s no way to wriggle off the hook.

In a flash the Three Waters Reforms have gone from looking reasonable to being radical reform, with Mayors across the country panning the announcement by Minister Mahuta that Government will, after all, be compelling all Councils across New Zealand to surrender their drinking water, wastewater and stormwater assets to be reorganised into mega-entities.

Congratulations to people in Kaipara District who’ve responded to the Kaipara Call To Arms and have rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated in the last two weeks.

Local Councils across New Zealand have been heavily focused in recent weeks on the Government’s Three Waters Reform program and what it may mean for us all.

Current Covid Rules around Kaipara District Council

At the time of writing, we have just entered our first Level 4 lockdown since March of last year.

Fast-paced times for Kaipara District Council will be the flavour of the period ahead.

Keeping connected with friends and family is important for each of us, it’s part of what keeps us healthy, resilient and having an enjoyable life. Connections for small Kaipara District Council are likewise important.

Records have been tumbling at Kaipara District Council and I expect a new level has just been set for the longest single-day Council Meeting

Roads are the most significant part of the business of Council, and something about which locals are justifiably passionate.

A surprise season of tsunami sirens is upon us. A real evacuation-level alert, a false alarm and then a scheduled test all within one month – that’s a bit to get your head around! On 5 March there was a legitimate tsunami evacuation for communities of Mangawhai and Ruawai. 

In the last month the COVID-19 pandemic has directly impacted Kaipara District twice – once with the 'Northland case' who visited tourism hotspots from Mangawhai to Matakohe and then with the 14/15 Feb checkpoint/boundary confusion which affected large numbers of Kaipara people and for a day effectively cut Kaipara District in half.

Happy new year greetings to you as we roar on further into the Twenties. Already it’s lining up to be a cracker of a year for Kaipara District Council, and our summer season is well underway.

Summer is now upon us, and the days are warmer and longer.

Spring is fully here, the kowhai has bloomed, daffodils are done

“Kaipara’s getting hotter” is a perfect phrase for the season – winter is now over but, also, the attractiveness of Kaipara for new residents is reaching new levels of popularity.

Lockdown #2 is literally at the doorstep of Kaipara District right now

The darkest part of winter is here and yet there is so much light in Kaipara District

At hand we have a story of a halving, a doubling and a balancing. 

High and dry times continue across Kaipara District, as the worst-in-70-years drought rolls on.

Alert Level 4 has been extraordinary

Unprecedented events are unfolding around us.

Drought concerns are high on everyone’s minds.

Parched soils, hot temperatures and dry days make it clear summer’s here in Kaipara.