A PM's Snigger

There are times when aggravation rises like a high in blood pressure.

Listening to an aggravating program on country/rural issues a guest was the Prime Minister.

With a relatively large audience that is preached to at times by an over confident host , it should be an opportunity to grill the head of New Zealand   with some searching questions about many rural issues that are a handbrake on progress in the sector. The Government is always a handbrake of course.

But no. This PM is let off with fun time. The idea is to play around and crack funnies while the country struggles to cope with a multitude of problems.

What irked me was a snigger. The host mentioned Regional Councils and all we heard from the PM was a snigger. An absolute insult .

It  explained  in one muttering that the PM was vacant when it came to knowledge about Regional Councils.

He would have had his head filled with  advice from 54 experts and suits that consult with their computers and fellow suits to spew out the spin that a PM parrots to media who have no credibility and are short of  knowledge on the matter concerned.

It actually made me mad.

It is typical of Government these days. It is not the people that count it is the invisible bureaucrats and autonomous office  dwellers that seek to guide us to nirvana .Trouble is they have no idea how to get there.

I have no respect for a snigger.      

   

Regional Councils

Democratic and Effective Local Government.

Well that was the idea.

The Local Government Act and the Resource Management Act have tried to lay the groundwork for effective local government but ever since the major changes in 1991 there have been those who wish to alter or tinker with Acts that were largely effective given their huge task.

Part II of the Resource management Act had the  bold aim of managing natural and physical resources in a sustainable way. 

What is sustainable? That's a problem for a start.

Regional Councils were given the task of gamekeeper and also picked up the highly necessary catchment functions that   were previously the responsibility of Catchment Boards.

This is all lost on ratepayers now. Time has eroded the understanding of why Regional Councils were created and why they are critical in Local Government.

Sections of the RMA such as Section 6, 7 and 8 have given the opportunity for massive expansion and interpretation of all manner of issues and one thing about public servants and consultants is that they have an insatiable desire to expand. They dine on expansion.  They consume ratepayers funds at an alarming rate .It's easy to spend other peoples money.

Over the years various governments have amended the RMA and it has become a challenging piece of legislation .Politicians are pushed and pulled by the wrong influencers and we end up with a mess.

Recent announcements about getting rid of Regional Councillors and forming Boards as a kneejerk reaction to some councils being disproportionately influenced by indoctrinated staff is a very concerning and wrong move.

First you have to understand the problem.

Politicians think they understand Local Government .They don't.

They then attempt to correct perceived problems only to create more.

Going back to the last big reorganisation of Local Government ratepayers forget that County Councils were effective in Local Government.

There were some massive County Councils like Tuapeka. They were crushed under the changes.

What we can see now how the power base of rural people shifted to the urban base .The imposition of more and more regulations and controls and legislative creep has emanated from Central Government interference .A great example being the con of climate change.

This power needed to be curbed. This will not occur with the  petulant bashing of Regional Councils by politicians with brief attendance in Wellington and poor advice from whoever.

Heads are nodding but they are not thinking. 

A better start at correcting the situation would be to go back to the drawing board with catchments as a starting point.

Cut the urban activists and the environmentally vacant out of the equation.

         

Other People

I mentioned listening to other people. 

You can tell when people are listening .It's a pleasure to behold when a bell rings and you switch on because someone is actually listening.

Some of us don't have loud voices. An aggressive manner. A dominant presence.

But observation can expose wonderful insights from thoughtful considered folks.

It was a surprise talking to the hairdresser this morning. I know hairdressers  are up there with  the best when it comes to gossip and the latest take on every news item that has graced the papers on the chairs for the waiting customers.

I have always been amazed at what I have learnt in that short time sitting in a chair while my locks are trimmed, shaped and trimmed some more because the conversation has been extended. Just think of  the wealth of knowledge gained by those hairdressers who have cut curls of blondes and brunettes and grey haired gits for countless years. I mean we go go back for more  unless we have a bald head .Every time we frequent the red blue and white signaled surgeon we tell more. The accumulated knowledge is immense.

The red on the barbers pole explains the historical fact that they once conducted surgery. Thank goodness it is not the case today. Even though the scissors and gear neatly laid out in wait for customers is pretty impressive and may reflect a wish to conduct fine surgery on unsuspecting customers hair.

Where was I.

I mentioned some issues relating to flood protection and solutions and rain events as my hairdresser had been understanding in previous visits. Well she unleashed. Here was that accumulated knowledge stored up from a line of long haired repeats that have divulged various aspects of their private lives and experiences in facing the wrath of nature.

I listened.

It was a pleasure to hear confirmation of a surprising quantum of logic obviously gleaned from looking in the mirror at wise heads. She had an outstanding understanding of a complex situation. A depth of understanding that surprised me. 

I walked out feeling enlightened in the head and lightened on the head .What a start to the day.

I wonder if all  hairdressers are listeners?        

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Common Threads

It's good to listen to interviews and commentary from a range of people covering a range of circumstances.

One gains perspective, balance, comparisons , facts, ideas, and sometimes the truth.

Truth is elusive. Always hiding .Too many facing consequences delay or obfuscate.

This morning I listened to an interview with Bernie Monk about the recently released film on Pike River.

What was apparent was the continuing desire by participants to hide from the facts.

It seems to be a common thread that runs through our system when we experience a disaster of major event. 

Think White Island, Christchurch earthquakes and the CT building and to me and other Hawkes Bay residents , Gabrielle.

Bernie touched on a number of issues that most have forgotten about. That's what happens. Time passes and we carry on with our lives as though nothing has happened.

Well that's for those unaffected .

Once you have experienced a major event it has a lasting impact. Reactions differ but leave an imprint in your mind.

So facts matter and the truth matters. We have cultivated a response in New Zealand that covers up. No one knows anything. No one is responsible.

A texter in response to the discussion mentioned the terrible situation that arose in the Esk Valley with Gabrielle.

The put down and condescending response from the host was infuriating. Obviously the person was connecting the lack of accountability following Pike River to the lack of accountability following Gabrielle (and it seems, other major events).

The swift reaction by authorities following Gabrielle was painted as a solution to help affected parties .I question now whether it was a swift move to save the butts of many parties involved before anyone noticed.

Too many in New Zealand are in a state of limbo.

Left behind. Not knowing where to turn for some accountability and explanation of the truth.

            .

      

 Another Study

"Almost 63,000 Bay of Plenty residents live in locations exposed to flooding from 1 in 100 year rainfall events new research led by Earth Sciences NZ reveals.

This number could increase to 72,500 with a further 3 degrees of warming.

Researchers modelled scenarios on the current climate and with an additional 3 degrees of warming for all parts of the country as part of a five year research programme studying flood risk.

Is this the right approach to living in a country that is subject to rain events from time to time. They happen .New Zealanders know this.

Suddenly we have modelling that can be played around with for five years to come up with answers that  could have been sourced from history. Could have been sourced from a wealth of experience held in the minds and hearts of residents or engineers who existed in a past time.

The huge fault with this gross expenditure of money is the assumption that the world will experience warming and to be specific, targeting  3 degrees warming  as a benchmark scenario.

I mean it's good work if you can get it.

Mention of the 'current climate' is interesting. Another assumption that we have a a current climate as opposed to a changing climate.

The time factor is ignored in small minds.

It is hard to believe that five years has been spent trying to understand nature.

I guess it's hard to perceive time , especially if your young .Try asking some questions about space and time may come in to perspective.

What if the world experiences a cooling scenario in the future? 

What about 0 degrees change ?

It will not matter if the temperature goes up or down we will continue to experience weather events. They are natural occurrences 

Us human beans have reacted to the weather since time immemorial .The weather is a continual challenge .We have built structures to fight nature. Sometimes  winning. Sometimes losing. 

Studies such as this five year justification for existence , are going to cause more expenditure that will cause more fear  and  nothing in the way of solutions.

   

   

     

Grading Your Future

Disasters bring out the best in authority.

Fires, floods, earthquakes , all those things we dread all do arise at some time.

People are at their best at times of great pressure .Adrenalin kicks in and heroes are born.

What else that kicks in these days is bureaucracy .Well it has to but we need to continually learn from reactions to disasters so that future events may be tackled in improved fashion.

Gabrielle had only just receded and already like a mystery in the night , marking appeared on cars and houses identifying those who were safe and those who were suspect. Nobody saw these shady movers with their indelible spray cans and coloured stickers .

The affected parties had to get on with coping but the mark hung over the community like a bad smell.

It appears the Minister in charge at the time had advice and the decision around stickers and control was made quick smart.

Following on from the Christchurch experience it appears that the category system was implemented extremely quickly in response to Gabrielle. It was logical to the powers that be , to reenact .The control had to be asserted .

Had anything been learned from the Christchurch experience? Had the system of categorisation been effective ? What were the consequences?

There was an interesting discussion on radio recently where an Associate Professor from Auckland University commented on the system and questioned it's effectiveness.

Was it right to use the same approach In Auckland and Hawkes Bay?

There are always reactions to decisions. People are people. Once we had a red zone in our area the implications were dire and the reactions swift . There was a lot of secrecy. Questioning.  

Immediately there was division. Red meant financial implications .Some in yellow wanted red. Some in red wanted yellow. Everyone wanted white.

Lines were drawn on maps and lines were drawn in battle.

Then followed the secrecy, the subterfuge, the accommodation of interested parties. Manipulation was to ensue.

Red helped destroy our community.

There was a shift from rebuild to remove. The instigation of coloured meant consequences may be intended.

Kneejerk reactions by Government have had major consequences and in the future I would suggest that we learn from this event   and let more time pass before major decisions are made .The people involved need to be considered .They are the ones with the local knowledge and may be the ability,  to see  what needs to be done.

Communities should be helped to rebuild, not to be destroyed.  

            

 Executive Orders

It is great to have a democratic country even though at times you wonder if we do.

There are certainly problems with our system but it's still the best option.

At times I wonder if it would be good to have executive orders available to enable decisions to be made quickly and when serious issues arise to deal with an issue before consequences mean negative outcomes.

Only trouble is when the wrong person is in power there is the opportunity for abuse.

Back to the drawing board.

What stirred my mind on decision making was the move by Government to change the earthquake strengthening rules which were implemented following the terrible Christchurch earthquake.

There is a propensity by Government to over react at times and the office dwellers rush to grab the scenario that will deliver safe haven from all and sundry 'just in case'.

We don't have the ability to sue but it another issue that at times one may think it should be an option.

The decision to change the rules is the correct one. The effect of new  earthquake regulations up and down the country was substantial and we have seen Councils rob ratepayers of millions for no reason other than to comply with excessive compliance . It is a scandal in fact but in sleepy New Zealand we watch the bureaucrats and the startled elected members vote in favour of a fix because it's not their money.

The rates bill arrives and the people mutter and moan and carry on their stunned way believing in the elected members analytical skills.

Which brings me to the decisions made following Gabrielle.

There is a linkage with Christchurch (and may be other events) .Decisions to categorise areas 1,2 , 3, following the flood were made with extreme speed. This was not an earthquake but the invisible powers moved very fast to stamp authority over the affected briefly inundated areas.

Not a lot of thought, not a lot of analysis .

This was a very complicated situation and these decisions were to have massive consequences for the people involved. Still are.

Commonsense  unheard of. 

The trouble is distortions were created following these backroom agreements. Major distortions.

People always react to situations and when presented with options it is human nature to exploit the best option. This is what happened and the result has been major distortions between cases and many have become disenfranchised by the process.

In the case of Gabrielle it is too late to change the flawed decisions .Hopefully we can learn from the mistakes but I don't believe anyone will.

Communities were destroyed by the hastily made decisions and no one will be held accountable.

Even though the new changes to earthquake strengthening rules are welcomed the category system needs examining .