Catchments Key

Perusing more reports from various regions  tackling the forced reforms I note a common theme that is not a surprise.

Historically New Zealand has always had a body responsible for catchments .It's not half obvious why given the last few years and the challenges thrown at the country by natural forces.

It is critical that NZ understands how important catchments are in the development of our regions as they have a major impact on water and it's path to the sea. Catchments  have been understood for many years but lately have not had the understanding of politicians or the community as they have become lost in the political desire to build flash facilities instead of  infrastructure that protects and provides.

The new crop of politicians are like Johnny come latelys with their approach to dealing with headaches such as why Local Government has become top heavy and dictatorial .

They need to look in the mirror and ask who created the problem.

Shucks I find myself agreeing with the latest from the NZ Initiative who have correctly identified the crux of the Local Government largesse.

A senior fellow with the NZI has said the current problem with local government is not too many councils but that too much power has been taken away from local communities and moved to central government .He says council staff have too much power and councillors are effectively rubber stamping decisions made by staff.

I have been saying for some time that central government is responsible for the increasing workload of councils and issues such as the climate scam have a band of merry advocates all around the country trying to change the temperature. The only temperature change is occurring to ratepayers that are paying for a dream.

Jones and Watts and Bishop have wrongly identified the reason why rates are forever rising and the rude attack on local government misses the target completely.

The worst part of the bullying is the forced removal of regional councillors. Regional councils are critical in regional responsibilities such as the control of rivers and water. Water allocation needs to be with a body separated from main users of the resource , urban populations.

It is a classic poacher game keeper situation but it is misunderstood by most ratepayers.

Proposals emerging to address the bullying see catchments split down the middle, boundaries being played with and representation  resets that will cause major problems in the future.

Hawkes Bay rural sector should be shaking in their gumboots if a Mayor of an urban area is in control of regional rural issues.

Leave the dam situation as it is and stop causing so much angst and cost to ratepayers.