Cemetery issue central at candidates meeting

All but one of Rotorua's five mayoral candidates have made it clear they do not support a cemetery in Horohoro.
The location of the cemetery was a major talking point at a Meet the Candidates evening at Ngakuru last night with incumbent Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters saying he did not think Horohoro will get the cemetery.
He said there were five sites available but did not name them. He also said the Rotorua District Council had plenty of time.
"I don't think it will go in Horohoro for a whole lot of reasons."
The council has purchased 41ha on Apirana Rd, Horohoro, about 20km southeast of Rotorua, for $1.15 million to develop into a lawn cemetery within 10 years.
Horohoro resident Clayton Oldham asked the mayoral candidates and the eight candidates standing for the district's South Ward what their stance was on a cemetery in Horohoro.
Mayoral candidate and incumbent deputy mayor Trevor Maxwell said he supported the Kauae Cemetery being extended using adjacent land owned by Ngati Whakaue.
Mayoral candidates Lyall Thurston and Merepeka Raukawa-Tait opposed the Horohoro site with Mrs Raukawa-Tait criticising the present council for buying the land before consulting residents.
"They certainly made a rod for their own backs. Buy first and consult later.
"What on earth do you think the result is going to be? This is a revisit of the Kaharoa situation [the youth prison]."
Cliff Lee said Rotorua "is not going to get agreement to put a cemetery anywhere". However, he did not say whether he was in favour of the Horohoro site.
Six of the eight South Ward candidates Glenys Searancke, Julie Calnan, Alan Deverson, Kathy Folley, Mike McVicker and Oscar Nathan said they did not support a cemetery being built in Horohoro.
Charles Te Kowhai said the council had to respond to what the community was saying and Rachel Ward said she was in favour only if a new cemetery was needed.
Rates was also a key issue with many candidates supporting a move from rating based on land value to rating based on capital value.
Mrs Searancke said she was confident the rating system would change to a capital value rating system and hoped it would happen within the next 18 months.
When Ngakuru's Max Pryce asked the South Ward candidates if they supported Environment Bay of Plenty's headquarters move from Whakatane to Tauranga none of them said they did - a stance which drew a loud applause.
None of the mayoral candidates support the regional council's move west either.
Waikite Valley resident John Skiffington expressed concern over the amount of compliance costs people were faced with. He said he needed to employ a "lawyer, town planner surveyor, policeman, and candlemaker to do anything".
Residents were told a lot more costs were being thrust on local bodies now by central government.
Mr Thurston also noted that there was a "fundamental problem" with communication at the Rotorua District Council.
More than 40 residents from Waikite Valley, Ngakuru, Horohoro and Upper Atiamuri turned out to hear what the candidates had to say at last night's meeting which is the first in a series to be held before next month's local body elections.