Post by Kiwi Frontline on Nov 21, 2016 5:30:00 GMT 12
Sunlive / Weekend Sun 18/11/16
DEFINITION OF DEMOCRACY IGNORED
It is not looking good for democracy in Tauranga. I wrote, on behalf of the people of Tauranga City, to all the councillors about the law which they have just sworn an oath to uphold. I quote: “The purpose of local government is to enable democratic local decision making and action by local communities”. The definition of democracy is: “Rule by the people”. Two out of 11 replied! Nothing from, Mayor Greg Brownless, Max Mason, Gail McIntosh, Kelvin Clout, Leanne Brown, Larry Baldock, Catherine Stewart, Bill Grainger and Terry Molloy. Rick Curach and Steve Morris sent very short replies!
My concern is that right now, staff at TCC are telling these councillors they - the elected councillors - are to make all the decisions and ignore us. This is totally against the purpose of The Local Government Act and against the law. Sadly, 10 of the 11 councillors have all operated in the former council and, I believe, will quickly resume their old ways under the influence of non-elected staff.
We, you and I, can apply to have a Government Appointed Commissioner to run our council if the old system of dictatorship continues. Councillors, you have to obey the law. You have been warned!
K E
Tauranga.
STOP THE ‘CRAZIES’ IN THEIR TRACKS
Donald Trump successfully dealt to the ‘rotten to the core' Washington establishment and in doing so, did the American public a big favour. Yes, he is possibly loosely wrapped and maybe not ideal but is clearly better than the opposition and some of his policies actually make sense.
Having regard to the Trump landslide, Brexit and other looming political changes about to sweep through Europe and even Australia, the National Party has every reason to fear the October 2017 General Election and reliable sources report they are privately paranoid about losing seats.
Mr Key's policies including RMA Act, Freshwater, race-based – elected and unelected – representation on councils and committees, Trans-Pacific Partnership, the flag referendum, housing stuff-ups, immigration and tribal uprising's commemoration day – all effectively done without public consultation will be the death knell for him and his robotic bootlickers! Grovelling to the irrelevant Maori Party is just another nail in the coffin.
Voters have the opportunity to dismiss this National Government and not to support the Labour-Greens Coalition by giving their 2017 Party Vote to NZ First, which at least supports what most Kiwis believe in and this should translate into 20-25 seats, enough to hold the balance of power and stop the ‘crazies' in their tracks. A word of warning to National Party backsliders ‘ask not for whom the bell tolls – it tolls for thee' and good riddance too.
R P
Matapihi.
Nelson Mail 18/11/16
VISIONLESS
Democracy is a fragile flower, and political pragmatism is its nemesis. Nick Smith’s pragmatic RMA deal with the Maori Party eminently disqualifies him as democracy’s cultivator, and justifying it by the Treaty of Waitangi, is a culpable misrepresentation of both history and of the framers’ intent.
His government has already white anted democracy’s walls by introducing into governmental bodies members with full voting rights on decisions affecting the people who never democratically chose them.
You don’t know what you’ve lost until it’s gone, and the democratic inheritance bequeathed to us by our forefathers is being sold out by a generation of visionless and cynical anti-democratic dealmakers.
A F J
Wakefield
NICK SMITH REPLIES: My Resource Management Act (RMA) Bill makes more than 40 important changes that will benefit New Zealand.
It makes managing natural hazards a priority. It enables national regulations to get stock fenced out of our lakes and rivers.
It requires councils to free up more land for housing.
It exempts minor activities from requiring a resource consent
It provides more generous compensation for land taken under the Public Works Act
It requires councils to use national planning standards that will hugely reduce the RMA's complexity.
The bill's provisions that allow for councils to enter into iwi participation arrangements are simply about enabling Maori to have a say in resource management They are not compulsory and require council agreement. Final decision-making remains with elected councils.
The bill makes plain that such arrangements need to minimise the cost and avoid unnecessary delays.
Some councils already have such agreements, and they are working well.
We should not idealise our forefathers' democracy.
Our majority rule Parliament was used in the nineteenth century to unfairly confiscate Maori land.
Our MMP democracy today is more inclusive and does require compromise.
DEFINITION OF DEMOCRACY IGNORED
It is not looking good for democracy in Tauranga. I wrote, on behalf of the people of Tauranga City, to all the councillors about the law which they have just sworn an oath to uphold. I quote: “The purpose of local government is to enable democratic local decision making and action by local communities”. The definition of democracy is: “Rule by the people”. Two out of 11 replied! Nothing from, Mayor Greg Brownless, Max Mason, Gail McIntosh, Kelvin Clout, Leanne Brown, Larry Baldock, Catherine Stewart, Bill Grainger and Terry Molloy. Rick Curach and Steve Morris sent very short replies!
My concern is that right now, staff at TCC are telling these councillors they - the elected councillors - are to make all the decisions and ignore us. This is totally against the purpose of The Local Government Act and against the law. Sadly, 10 of the 11 councillors have all operated in the former council and, I believe, will quickly resume their old ways under the influence of non-elected staff.
We, you and I, can apply to have a Government Appointed Commissioner to run our council if the old system of dictatorship continues. Councillors, you have to obey the law. You have been warned!
K E
Tauranga.
STOP THE ‘CRAZIES’ IN THEIR TRACKS
Donald Trump successfully dealt to the ‘rotten to the core' Washington establishment and in doing so, did the American public a big favour. Yes, he is possibly loosely wrapped and maybe not ideal but is clearly better than the opposition and some of his policies actually make sense.
Having regard to the Trump landslide, Brexit and other looming political changes about to sweep through Europe and even Australia, the National Party has every reason to fear the October 2017 General Election and reliable sources report they are privately paranoid about losing seats.
Mr Key's policies including RMA Act, Freshwater, race-based – elected and unelected – representation on councils and committees, Trans-Pacific Partnership, the flag referendum, housing stuff-ups, immigration and tribal uprising's commemoration day – all effectively done without public consultation will be the death knell for him and his robotic bootlickers! Grovelling to the irrelevant Maori Party is just another nail in the coffin.
Voters have the opportunity to dismiss this National Government and not to support the Labour-Greens Coalition by giving their 2017 Party Vote to NZ First, which at least supports what most Kiwis believe in and this should translate into 20-25 seats, enough to hold the balance of power and stop the ‘crazies' in their tracks. A word of warning to National Party backsliders ‘ask not for whom the bell tolls – it tolls for thee' and good riddance too.
R P
Matapihi.
Nelson Mail 18/11/16
VISIONLESS
Democracy is a fragile flower, and political pragmatism is its nemesis. Nick Smith’s pragmatic RMA deal with the Maori Party eminently disqualifies him as democracy’s cultivator, and justifying it by the Treaty of Waitangi, is a culpable misrepresentation of both history and of the framers’ intent.
His government has already white anted democracy’s walls by introducing into governmental bodies members with full voting rights on decisions affecting the people who never democratically chose them.
You don’t know what you’ve lost until it’s gone, and the democratic inheritance bequeathed to us by our forefathers is being sold out by a generation of visionless and cynical anti-democratic dealmakers.
A F J
Wakefield
NICK SMITH REPLIES: My Resource Management Act (RMA) Bill makes more than 40 important changes that will benefit New Zealand.
It makes managing natural hazards a priority. It enables national regulations to get stock fenced out of our lakes and rivers.
It requires councils to free up more land for housing.
It exempts minor activities from requiring a resource consent
It provides more generous compensation for land taken under the Public Works Act
It requires councils to use national planning standards that will hugely reduce the RMA's complexity.
The bill's provisions that allow for councils to enter into iwi participation arrangements are simply about enabling Maori to have a say in resource management They are not compulsory and require council agreement. Final decision-making remains with elected councils.
The bill makes plain that such arrangements need to minimise the cost and avoid unnecessary delays.
Some councils already have such agreements, and they are working well.
We should not idealise our forefathers' democracy.
Our majority rule Parliament was used in the nineteenth century to unfairly confiscate Maori land.
Our MMP democracy today is more inclusive and does require compromise.