Letter to the Editor - Tuesday August 20, 2013

That's democracy

"Well, sorry folks, that's democracy for you."

That's the answer Local Government Commission chairman Basil Morrison gave when a concerned member of the audience questioned the larger voter base of Whangarei, and how even if we became 'local boards' the Far North district would still be subject to the powers of population-heavy Whangarei.

That's right folks, Mr Morrison confirmed democracy and the number disadvantaged will still mean that the Far North interests are outweighed again by Whangarei priorities.

That is indeed why the FNDC and iwi leaders put in a joint application to become a Far North UA in the first place; because dress representation how you will, if we are part of a greater Northland UA, and indeed even the status quo, Far North priorities, economy, environment and voice will continue to be engulfed by city views in Whangarei.

Whangarei has the greatest number of ratepayers, and from where they sit our rural towns such as Kerikeri, Kaikohe, Kaitaia, are the little guys out the back. Don't we have greater aspirations than this?

I urge our community to be very wary of a wolf in sheep's clothing, and continue to push the commission to consider a Far North Unitary Authority, in the interest of improving our future.

I also plead our new recently relocated Green MP David Clendon to spend his energy supporting 'local' Far North needs and lobby central government on our behalf for more funding so local councils and our communities can do a better job for our roads, infrastructure, economy and environment, rather than support big brother politics and a move to large-scale amalgamations.

According to Dr Oliver Hartwich's presentation at the local government conference in July, Wellington controls 89 per cent of all public spending, and that leaves 11 per cent, less than half the OECD average, for local priorities.

The conclusion of the LGC meeting saw Mr Clendon agreeing to 'help' Basil Morrison get local boards across the line with Local Government Minister Chris Tremain.

This 'tokenistic' local board concept is a step backwards from strategic decisions been made in the Far North, and is the opposite of what the FNDC, iwi leaders, WDC, and the countless letters of support for two unitary authorities have requested from the Commission.

Local councils, iwi and community leaders need more support from central government to support our local communities, not less.

LAU'RELL PRATT

Kerikeri