Panui - Council Newsletter

Happy New Year! I hope that like me you are taking this opportunity to enjoy a relaxing summer holiday here in the district or further afield. I have certainly enjoyed a few spots of better weather to finally get in some fishing time on the boat!

This is my first chance to write a mayoral column for this Pānui and I want to start it with a thank you to everyone who voted in last year’s elections and the trust placed in me and your fellow councillors to do the best for the whole community in our elected roles.

I have picked up the mayoral reins at a very exciting time for the district. We are in the unique position of having come through covid with positive growth in many areas. We have opened new facilities, paved new footpaths, built playgrounds and can see the future of our harbour very clearly on our doorstep.

We have much more work still to do to make sure our district thrives and makes the most of these opportunities we have created. I have committed to listening at every opportunity, thinking long term and being transparent in our processes and decisions. I encourage you to hold us all to that!

I look forward to a safe, happy and productive 2023.

David Moore – Ōpōtiki Mayor

Last year, HEB Construction and Charlie Seymour delivered a 2-tonne hanbar unit to 20 local kura. Resene supplied paint and the kura were invited to paint their hanbar in their own designs and colours. To date, about 16 completed designs have been collected and returned to the site and they look amazing! These will be placed in a few strategic locations when works are finished, for example at access points, on the harbour walls or near parking.

Left to right: Councillor Steve Nelson, Councillor Barry Howe, Councillor Maxie Kemara, Mayor David Moore, Councillor Tom Brooks, Councillor Shona Browne, Councillor Dean Petersen

Local government is changing

Big changes are coming for local government and you can add your say to how you want it to look in the future.

The Future for Local Democracy Review Panel have shared their draft report and it includes many ideas to help reverse the trends for low voter turnout and a lack of diversity around council tables.

Lots of options are being considered, for example allowing 16-year-olds to vote, moving to four-year terms for elected representatives, and using a Single Transferable Vote system. It is an exciting opportunity to help shape local democracy for future generations.

www.futureforlocalgovernment.govt.nz

In brief

Our grocery voucher competition was a real success with dozens of people signing up to pay through direct debit. It is a great tool to set and forget – on a day that suits you, no worries about penalties or due dates, and you can spread the cost over the whole year. We had two (very happy!) winners of the $300 grocery vouchers - congratulations to Alan and Robert on their wins. Of course, you don’t need a competition to sign up to direct debit, you can find out more at our service centre or online.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Keep an eye out for a chance to have you say about changes to speed limits near our kura and schools in the district. Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency has recently consulted on proposed speed changes around kura and marae on the state highway network and council will be doing the same in the coming months.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

If you are on a small community or maraebased drinking water scheme (not a council-run system) then a new government fund could help you upgrade equipment and get training to use it. The new fund covers private drinking water suppliers, papakāinga and kōhanga reo not on the town supply. There are a number of other factors to take into consideration and there is more information on the Crown Infrastructure Partners website.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Council recently secured $214,000 from central government’s Freedom Camping Transition Fund to help manage freedom camping in the district over the busy summer holiday period. Council takes an ‘education first’ approach to enforcement and this funding will help with monitoring, compliance and education programs at each of our freedom camping sites.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Council has signed off on a new committee structure for this triennium. Two committees remain the same (the Risk and Assurance Committee and the Regulatory Appeals Committee) and three new committees that will make recommendations to full council: Strategy, Planning and Regulatory Committee, Performance and Delivery Committee and Chief Executives Performance Committee. You can read more about these new committees on our website.