Decision sparks group's call for rates boycott

Chairman of commissioners John Robertson.

A lobby group has called on all Kaipara residents to stop paying rates after the Government decided to extend the stay in office of three Kaipara District Council commissioners by a further year.

Associate Minister for Local Government, Louise Upston, reappointed John Robertson, Richard Booth and Peter Winder chairmen of commissioner until October 2016 - in line with the triennial general elections for all local authorities.

The trio were appointed for a three-year term in 2012 and Ms Upston said it was important the commissioners be given more time to achieve stable governance in Kaipara.

A petition to Ms Upston in March, signed by more than 1300 of the 14,000 Kaipara residents calling for the commissioners' terms to be extended for a further 12 months, played a part in the extension.

The Mangawhai Ratepayers and Residents Association which has long called for the commissioners to be removed and elections called accused the Government of forcing its will on Kaipara ratepayers.

"She chooses late on a Friday afternoon of a weekend when the entire country remembers the sacrifice thousands of New Zealanders made defending democracy to announce the indefinite suspension of democracy for thousands of ratepayers in Kaipara," association chairman Bruce Rogan said.

"What we'd hope is for Kaipara ratepayers to absolutely refuse to pay one cent to the council until they get their democratic representation they deserve."

Mr Rogan said for the unelected commissioners to tax people without representation was a breach of human rights.

He said if the commissioners were so confident of their support, they should have put their hands up for election rather than continue in office with the Government's blessing.

Ms Upston said the commissioners had made significant progress in addressing issues and improving the council's performance.

"When an election is held, it is important that stable governance is achieved in Kaipara, and the mistakes of the past do not happen again.

"I don't consider that current circumstances lend themselves to achieving this if an election is held in October 2015.

"The re-appointment of the Commissioners until October 2016 gives the district the best chance of getting the stable governance it deserves."