logo
Environment Canterbury's chair rebuffs government's directive to stop planning

Environment Canterbury's chair rebuffs government's directive to stop planning

RNZ Newsa day ago
Environment Canterbury (ECan) chairperson Craig Pauling.
Photo:
David Hill / North Canterbury News
Councils have been urged "not to stop the planning" despite the government saying plan changes are a
waste of ratepayers' money
.
Environment Canterbury (ECan) chairperson Craig Pauling said the work of
local government still needs to continue
.
''At ECan we've already been impacted by stops to planning and I am personally disappointed some good things in our Regional Policy Statement, which would have made a difference, can't happen.''
The policy statements provide an overview of resource management issues in a region.
Resource Management Act (RMA) Reform Minister Chris Bishop this week announced the government would
halt changes to district and regional plans
.
It comes ahead of a shake-up of the RMA, which is expected to come into effect in 2027.
Pauling made his comments during a panel discussion at the Local Government NZ conference on Thursday, July 17.
''I would encourage you not to stop the planning. Don't stop thinking. You've got to do the analysis.
''Keep the thinking going, so when things do land you are in the best position.''
ECan voted in November to put its RPS on hold until January 2026, while it awaits more certainty with RMA reform.
It has been unable to adopt a plan change to fix issues in the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan, following a Supreme Court decision on a water bottling plant in Christchurch in 2023.
Environment Canterbury chairperson Craig Pauling (second left) and on screen takes part in a panel discussion during the Local Government NZ conference.
Photo:
David Hill / North Canterbury News
There has been speculation the RMA reform could lead to regional councils being scrapped, but both Bishop and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour said no decision had been made.
Bishop, who met with regional council chairs during the conference, indicated an announcement was likely by the end of the year.
Pauling said it made sense to consider the shape of local government alongside the RMA reform, as regional councils came into being in 1989, in anticipation of the RMA, which was enacted in 1991.
He admitted there were flaws with the present model, as local and regional councils didn't always work together.
''My personal view is separating land-use between city and regional councils was wrong. We've had so many occasions when land-use has been consented non-notified and then it needs water table allocations (from the regional council).''
LGNZ passed a remit at its annual general meeting calling for a review of local government functions and governance arrangements.
Its chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said local government needed to be proactive and lead the changes required.
Under existing legislation there are only two alternatives for regional government - regional councils and unitary authorities.
Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting, Pauling said more options were needed, as different regions had different challenges.
Canterbury is much larger than other regions, has more braided rivers and catchments, a centrally located population and sparsely populated districts such as Kaikōura, Hurunui, Mackenzie and Waimate.
''We need to be having the conversation and asking the questions. Would Kaikōura and Waimate survive as unitary authorities?''
Splitting the region into three - North, Mid and South Canterbury has been mooted - but Pauling thinks it would be ''problematic''.
South Canterbury would likely be the largest unitary authority in the country in terms of geography, but with a population of only 60,000.
The Hurunui district alone is the same size as Taranaki and half the size of Auckland, but with a much smaller population.
A Christchurch or Greater Christchurch unitary authority has also been mooted, but questions have been raised about whether the rest of Canterbury would have a sufficient ratepayer base to manage regional council functions.
Pauling said he believed it would be ''unworkable''.
Another option, which ECan councillors considered at a recent workshop, was a Canterbury or South Island Assembly.
This was based on the Greater Manchester model, where the existing local councils could continue and the mayors or council representatives and Mana Whenua representatives could form an assembly to make regional decisions.
Whatever is decided, Pauling said local communities need to be involved in the decision making ''or it wouldn't fly''.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

New Plymouth rates blunder caused by lack of financial reporting knowledge
New Plymouth rates blunder caused by lack of financial reporting knowledge

RNZ News

time21 minutes ago

  • RNZ News

New Plymouth rates blunder caused by lack of financial reporting knowledge

New Plymouth District Council chief executive Gareth Green concedes an earlier restructure played a part in the error. Photo: Taupō District Council / Supplied An external review following a New Plymouth District Council rates GST blunder - which could've cost it $20 million in lost revenue - indicates key managers may not have a sufficiently sophisticated understanding of the rating process and its impacts. The Simpson Grierson review found the council lacked financial reporting and modelling capability which "strongly suggests a need for training, and possibly recruitment/restructure and training". Council chief executive Gareth Green conceded an earlier restructure - which saved the district council $10 million - played a part in the error. "That necessitated some significant pressure being applied through the business. "I think that pressure along with other pressure points in the local government sector has contributed to this [mistake] occurring, so certainly the pressure that restructure has applied has had an impact, most definitely." He was instigating another restructure designed to bring more financial and local government experience to council staff. Green said this would result in a "small number of job losses" due to new positions being created. He wasn't thinking about falling on his sword. "I do take full responsibility for this, but I am not tendering my resignation at the current time. "My total focus at this point is leading this organisation through this situation and making sure we can resolve it in the best possible way." The Simpson Grierson review also uncovered two further bungles . It revealed the council hiked average residential rates 12.8 percent rather than 9.9 percent as advertised. The gaffe equated to $102 per ratepayer or $3.1 million. The review also identified an annual plan wording error relating to industrial water use which could've cost council a further $1.4 million in lost revenue. In his report, consultant Jonathan Salter said sophisticated knowledge and understanding of the rating process and rating impacts tended to be the domain of specialist officers with a long-standing understanding of the rating function. These staff were usually intimately familiar with the council's financial reporting and modelling systems, the valuation and rating information database and the district itself, he said. "There appears to have been a lack of capability in these two areas. This strongly suggests a need for training, and possibly recruitment/restructure and training." New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Mayor Neil Holdom said one reason why he called for an independent review when the GST error was discovered was so council could learn from its mistakes. "I just want to make it clear the councillors - the governance team - made decisions based on information that was incorrect. "Our long-term plan was audited by Audit NZ and they also didn't pick up this error in our rating calculation model." Holdom said the proposed restructure would bolster the financial capability and bring people onboard council with local government experience. The Simpson Grierson report also recommended an independent legal review be a component of the annual rate setting process, and that council not rely on the Audit NZ review alone. Holdom said an extra-ordinary meeting on 22 July would consider a proposal for future annual-plan and long-term plan calculations to be externally peer reviewed as part of a parcel of steps to address the recent errors. Salter also wanted the council to review how it handled documents. "It appears that document management may have been an issue ... the restricted water supply targeted rate issue appears to have arisen from an incorrect 'cut and paste' from another document." Holdom earlier described the GST blunder as a "typo" and a "cut and paste" error. The Simpson Grierson consultant also thought council should consider moving away from an average residential rates model to an overall rates model. "This would be a more transparent and certain disclosure. If there is reference to the 'average' rather than 'overall' rates increase, this concept should be defined." At the extraordinary council meeting on 22 July, the mayor would recommend councillors approve a one-off rates refund to all residential property owners to ensure the average residential rates increase equalled 9.9 percent. That would require council to find $3.1 million in savings elsewhere. Councillors would also vote on amending the rates resolution wording regarding properties on a restricted water flow - usually industrial users - to ensure council was able to charge $418 for each cubic metre of water as intended. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

New Plymouth District Council rates blunder caused by lack of financial reporting knowledge
New Plymouth District Council rates blunder caused by lack of financial reporting knowledge

RNZ News

timean hour ago

  • RNZ News

New Plymouth District Council rates blunder caused by lack of financial reporting knowledge

New Plymouth District Council chief executive Gareth Green concedes an earlier restructure played a part in the error. Photo: Taupō District Council / Supplied An external review following a New Plymouth District Council rates GST blunder - which could've cost it $20 million in lost revenue - indicates key managers may not have a sufficiently sophisticated understanding of the rating process and its impacts. The Simpson Grierson review found the council lacked financial reporting and modelling capability which "strongly suggests a need for training, and possibly recruitment/restructure and training". Council chief executive Gareth Green conceded an earlier restructure - which saved the district council $10 million - played a part in the error. "That necessitated some significant pressure being applied through the business. "I think that pressure along with other pressure points in the local government sector has contributed to this [mistake] occurring, so certainly the pressure that restructure has applied has had an impact, most definitely." He was instigating another restructure designed to bring more financial and local government experience to council staff. Green said this would result in a "small number of job losses" due to new positions being created. He wasn't thinking about falling on his sword. "I do take full responsibility for this, but I am not tendering my resignation at the current time. "My total focus at this point is leading this organisation through this situation and making sure we can resolve it in the best possible way." The Simpson Grierson review also uncovered two further bungles . It revealed the council hiked average residential rates 12.8 percent rather than 9.9 percent as advertised. The gaffe equated to $102 per ratepayer or $3.1 million. The review also identified an annual plan wording error relating to industrial water use which could've cost council a further $1.4 million in lost revenue. In his report, consultant Jonathan Salter said sophisticated knowledge and understanding of the rating process and rating impacts tended to be the domain of specialist officers with a long-standing understanding of the rating function. These staff were usually intimately familiar with the council's financial reporting and modelling systems, the valuation and rating information database and the district itself, he said. "There appears to have been a lack of capability in these two areas. This strongly suggests a need for training, and possibly recruitment/restructure and training." New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Mayor Neil Holdom said one reason why he called for an independent review when the GST error was discovered was so council could learn from its mistakes. "I just want to make it clear the councillors - the governance team - made decisions based on information that was incorrect. "Our long-term plan was audited by Audit NZ and they also didn't pick up this error in our rating calculation model." Holdom said the proposed restructure would bolster the financial capability and bring people onboard council with local government experience. The Simpson Grierson report also recommended an independent legal review be a component of the annual rate setting process, and that council not rely on the Audit NZ review alone. Holdom said an extra-ordinary meeting on 22 July would consider a proposal for future annual-plan and long-term plan calculations to be externally peer reviewed as part of a parcel of steps to address the recent errors. Salter also wanted the council to review how it handled documents. "It appears that document management may have been an issue ... the restricted water supply targeted rate issue appears to have arisen from an incorrect 'cut and paste' from another document." Holdom earlier described the GST blunder as a "typo" and a "cut and paste" error. The Simpson Grierson consultant also thought council should consider moving away from an average residential rates model to an overall rates model. "This would be a more transparent and certain disclosure. If there is reference to the 'average' rather than 'overall' rates increase, this concept should be defined." At the extraordinary council meeting on 22 July, the mayor would recommend councillors approve a one-off rates refund to all residential property owners to ensure the average residential rates increase equalled 9.9 percent. That would require council to find $3.1 million in savings elsewhere. Councillors would also vote on amending the rates resolution wording regarding properties on a restricted water flow - usually industrial users - to ensure council was able to charge $418 for each cubic metre of water as intended. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Defence Force cuts 255 civilian roles to focus on front-line personnel
Defence Force cuts 255 civilian roles to focus on front-line personnel

RNZ News

time6 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Defence Force cuts 255 civilian roles to focus on front-line personnel

(File) NZDF is cutting 255 civilian roles to help it focus on front line personnel. Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Defence Force The Defence Force is cutting 255 civilan roles as part of a restructure. The agency said it is getting rid of 281 filled roles but establishing 276 new ones, meaning five currently filled positions will be axed. The remaining 250 jobs to be cut are currently vacant. The restructure was announced earlier this year , in March, when it was thought the net loss of roles would be about 370. In a statement, NZDF said the changes would help it focus on "maintaining combat readiness and delivering on core military activities". "In making decisions, the NZDF has consulted with staff and unions, and the feedback received has meant some changes that were initially proposed will not go ahead." Further consultation is still underway on alternative proposals, it said. "Throughout this process, the NZDF has ensured that as many staff as possible are placed into suitable alternative positions in the new structure." The Public Service Association said about 10 percent of the agency's civilian jobs were being cut and that the changes would increase already heavy workloads. This would lead to more stress and burnout, and force those in uniform to pick up the shortfall, it said. National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the government was fooling itself if it thought cutting so many jobs was how to build a modern, combat-ready defence force, at a time of rising security risks. She was pleased the government was investing in military equipment and technology , but said it was blind to the fact that civilian defence workers - like engineers and IT specialists - were needed to support this. Fitzsimons said staff were told the tough fiscal environment has forced Defence to make deep cuts in a number of areas, including cancelling some training activities and major exercises; reducing flying hours, sea days and other training, and; pausing property maintenance. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store