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RNZ News
17 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Councils blindsided by government call to halt planning work
Waitaki mayor Gary Kircher says his council is being adversely affected by the government's constant changes. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton Councils have been blindsided by the government's call to halt planning work, which they say will have "unintended consequences". Photo: Resource Management Act (RMA) Reform Minister Chris Bishop has put a stop to councils working on District and Regional Plans until the new RMA legislation takes effect. "Rather than let these pricey, pointless planning and policy processes play out, we will be giving councils clarity on where to focus their efforts while they await the new planning system," Bishop said at the Local Government NZ conference in Christchurch on Wednesday. The shake-up of the RMA is expected to come into effect in 2027. Christchurch city councillor Sara Templeton said her council is working on a plan change on noise in the central city , which could be placed under threat. The plan change was about "finding a balance between people living in town and the need for a vibrant nightlife", she said. Sara Templeton Photo: Supplied / Christchurch City Council "I'd be frustrated if we couldn't do that work with our communities. "The top-down approach from central government at the moment has had multiple unintended impacts." Cr Templeton called on the government to work more closely with councils. The Kaikōura District Council has been working through a review of its District Plan, which was adopted in 2008. Council chief executive Will Doughty said the announcement will stifle the council's attempts to make changes to benefit the community. "We have just awarded a contract to our consultants to work on the first two or three chapters. "We always knew reform was underway, but we took an approach to respond to the needs of our community, while being flexible enough to review and respond to any changes." Doughty said the council faced criticism that the "rules are prohibitive", so it was keen to update the plan. Waitaki mayor Gary Kircher said his council has been reviewing parts of its District Plan, but its efforts were impacted by constant changes from central government. "The government has been signalling changing requirements for a long time, and we wish they would just get on and do it so we can get on and do what we need to do." Kircher said councils had called on the government to stop signalling changes ahead of legislation, as it set "unrealistic expectations for the community". "Once the government makes these announcements, people expect us to implement the changes, but it takes time to go through the planning process." RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop Photo: NZME / LDR Bishop said money was wasted on planning review processes, which was required under the existing RMA. "The government will suspend councils' mandatory RMA requirements to undertake plan and regional policy statement reviews every ten years, and the requirement to implement national planning standards." Bishop said there will be some exemptions, including private plan changes and natural hazards planning. -LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Newsroom
a day ago
- Business
- Newsroom
Govt winds up council reform storm
Analysis: It's a sentiment likely to set pulses racing among the current crop of Government ministers. In 2010, four-term councillor Bryan Cadogan aimed to unseat sitting Clutha mayor Juno Hayes by running on a platform of tying rates to inflation and focusing on core services. Cadogan won by 354 votes, turning around the previous election result in the district hemmed in by Dunedin, Central Otago, and Southland. Now, the Clutha mayor, who isn't running for re-election in October's elections, finds himself, and his sector, in the firing line of an interventionist Government considering rates caps, and introducing legislation to ensure councils focus on – that's right – core services. The Local Government NZ conference in Ōtautahi/Christchurch was formally launched on Wednesday with a video address, of less than two minutes, by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Councils need to get back to basics, he said, spending wisely and delivering value. What does that mean? 'Prioritising pipes over vanity projects,' explained the prime minister, flanked by national flags. 'It means roads over reports, and it means real outcomes.' When the address finished, conference MC Miriama Kamo started clapping loudly, joined somewhat unenthusiastically by a smattering of conference attendees. 'I'm the only one clapping, I see,' Kamo quipped. Cadogan says the Government's message landed 'pretty flatly' with him. 'It's getting a wee bit tedious getting asked time and time again to do the impossible.' Chris Bishop, the minister overseeing resource management reforms, took a more fire and brimstone approach than his leader, saying there was shrinking evidence councils were cutting their cloth and enabling growth. 'You cry out for more financing and funding tools. We're giving them to you. You ask for a better, simpler planning system. We're giving this to you, too. 'We are getting our house in order. It's time you sorted yours out.' (Some would have thought that line a bit rich, given analysis of May's Budget suggests Luxon's coalition will increase gross debt by more in five years than the Covid-affected previous government did in six.) Bishop announced a 'plan stop', warning councils not to waste money and time reviewing city and district plans, and regional policy statements – with narrow exceptions – ahead of an overhaul of resource management laws due to land in 2027. 'The time for excuses is over,' Chris Bishop told the Local Government NZ conference in Christchurch. Photo: David Williams Sam Broughton, mayor of Selwyn, just south of Christchurch, and president of Local Government NZ, says: 'It was really good to have that certainty.' Is that just common sense? Broughton says the progress on reforms is pleasing, but adds: 'It feels like councils have been in this reform storm for six or seven years, and has just been ongoing change without actually landing something.' Local Government Minister Simon Watts introduced the bill to focus councils on core services, which is expected to have its first reading on Thursday. ('It feels like the Government has a caricature of local government that isn't true,' Broughton says. He notes 80 percent of Selwyn council's capital spending is on pipes and roads.) Watts' explanation of why it was necessary to force councils to concentrate on core services, like roads, water and rubbish, sent offended ripples through the conference crowd. The minister used the analogy of setting boundaries for his children. Letting them do whatever they liked might lead to bad choices, he suggested. Instead, he might tell them, 'Hey, you've got these five things to do'. Among the crowd's murmurs, one conference-goer shouted: 'Just a bit patronising, mate!' From the conference stage, Watts appeared to pour cold water on the idea regional councils were about to be scrapped. 'We're thinking about it,' Watts said, adding ministers were cognisant 'there's already a huge amount of reform underway in your sector'. Bishop tried to mollify concerns about potential environmental consequences from the audience, saying a new Natural Environment Act would focus on biodiversity, ecology and human health. Later, the minister tells Newsroom: 'There will be environmental limits that will be set through the new regime.' (After a remit passed at Local Government NZ's annual general meeting on Wednesday, councils called for a review of local government's structure.) Christopher Luxon beamed in to the Local Government NZ conference in Christchurch. Photo: David Williams Government reforms for local government include the network-merging replacement for three waters, Local Water Done Well, waving city and regional deals under the noses of councils, and offering different funding and financing options for infrastructure to speed up house-building. Back to Cadogan, the Clutha mayor, who talks to Newsroom while walking to a negotiation with other councils on water services. He says despite Government rhetoric, councils can't be expected to achieve the triumvirate of lower rates, infrastructure upgrades and under-control debt. 'The Government know it, we know it, but we just keep on getting this.' Clutha council's experience puts those financial management challenges in stark relief. In 2019, its external borrowings were $5 million. Five years later, it had ballooned to $123m. To add salt to the financial wound, this year's average rates rise was an 'ungodly' 16.59 percent. How did this happen? 'Three waters, wholly and solely,' Cadogan says. (Last year, the mayor predicts the financial consequences of the 'three waters debacle' will hit. In the latest annual plan, he says 89.4 percent of this year's rates rise is attributable to roads, rubbish and three waters.) Clutha's unfortunate figures are: the third-longest water reticulation network in the country, with 27 sewage or water plants on 30-year consents, and, crucially, only 18,500 people to pay for it. Of the country's 565 drinking water quality breaches last year, 338 or 60 percent were in Clutha. 'We all want lower rates increases,' says Sam Broughton, the Selwyn district mayor and Local Government NZ president. Photo: David Williams Cadogan gives the example of a water upgrade for the tiny town of Waihola: running an 18.5km pipeline from Milton's water treatment plant oto the reservoir cost $6.3m. After years of problems with water quality and quantity, boil water notices were removed for all but 20 of the town's 247 houses. 'Then we go to Heriot, and then we go to Tapanui, then Owaka, then Clinton,' Cadogan says. 'It's a financial delusion that you can have rates cap, you can have debt ceilings, and you have to do this infrastructure update.' It would have been better for the National-led coalition to lift the hood on Labour's three waters policy and chuck out what they didn't like, Broughton says, instead of scrapping it and starting again. He thinks resolving water across the country might take seven or eight more steps. Policy lurches and delays cost millions of dollars and can, of course, increase council rates. Many councils might feel aggrieved by the ministerial attack given the National Party's pre-election commitment to devolution and localism. Luxon promised to reshape the relationship between central and local government. 'It does feel like every party in opposition is a localist,' Broughton says, 'and then as soon as they're in power, they become a creature that draws all the more power to themselves.' Broughton was applauded by conference attendees for his opening comments – made before Bishop's address. 'We all want lower rates increases. I want lower rates increases, I know you want lower rates increases, I hear from my community they want lower rates increases. But it can't be at the expense of our children picking up the tab because of our negligence today.' The Selwyn mayor tells Newsroom a key problem is councils have few alternatives to raise money. The best tool the Government could give councils, in his opinion, is to return GST spending on new houses locally. 'That would be a game-changer for us,' he says, noting between 1000 and 3000 houses have been built each year in Selwyn over the past five or six years. Broughton's also a fan of bed taxes, something Queenstown's council has, for years, been pushing for. Luxon said this week the Government's not actively considering a bed tax. 'It has just been an avalanche of unstoppable figures. Unstoppable.' Bryan Cadogan, Clutha mayor This is the second year ministers have used the Local Government NZ conference to berate councils for spending on 'nice-to-haves'. Last year, the venue, Wellington's $180m Tākina centre, was in the crosshairs. But Christchurch's half-billion-dollar monolithic convention centre, Te Pae, is of a different ilk – paid for by taxpayers as a post-quake anchor project. Luxon, Watts and Bishop did miss a trick in Christchurch, though. A 15-minute walk away from Te Pae is the new stadium, Te Kaha – a loss-making facility that will cost ratepayers $453m to build. The city's ratepayers face a three-year, cumulative rates rise of 24.66 percent that without the stadium, that would have been 19.43 percent. Using Luxon's words, the stadium isn't roads, rubbish or water, and tends, perhaps, more towards a vanity project. The last word goes to Cadogan, the outgoing Clutha mayor. He hopes a water services 'umbrella' with other councils will help his district save on infrastructure spending. 'We've been basically a stand-alone council for the last five years. Have a look what that did to our debt,' he says. 'I'm gutted as a mayor. I pride myself on really understanding figures. I understand them all right. It has just been an avalanche of unstoppable figures. Unstoppable.'
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Mixed reaction to planning halt
A Dunedin city councillor says her blood "runs cold" at the government's decision to halt council planning work ahead of an overhaul of resource management laws. However, some elected representatives across Otago are welcoming the changes and Dunedin's mayor says he sees an opportunity. Changes to council planning were announced yesterday at a Local Government New Zealand conference by the Minister Responsible for Resource Management Act (RMA) reform, Chris Bishop. The government would stop "unnecessary" plan changes — suspending requirements for councils to review plans or implement national planning standards. They would be unable to notify new plan or policy statements or changes to them unless they met certain exemption criteria. Mr Bishop said councils were spending too much time on plan processes which would likely be incomplete or "largely wasted" under the government's RMA replacement — expected to be in place by 2027. Dunedin city councillor Sophie Barker said she was concerned the government was "riding roughshod" over the wishes of local communities. "This is a government that preached localism as important, then looks to be taking our planning decisions out of our hands, and that of our communities. "When I see rhetoric like ... Mr Bishop's speech my blood does run cold." Cr Lee Vandervis said the RMA changes would save council time and money and allow staff to be involved in more productive local work. "The less work we have to do for central government and [Otago Regional Council] compliance, the more we can concentrate on making Dunedin resilient and self-sufficient." Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich viewed the situation as an opportunity. "This could be the ideal time to drive higher growth in Dunedin based on lower costs, more jobs and higher income," he said. Cr Steve Walker said the "Americanisation of New Zealand politics by this coalition government is leading us to a place most reasonable New Zealanders don't want to go". Cr Carmen Houlahan said most people at the conference "aren't that impressed" with the "massive" changes planned for local government. Also at the conference was Clutha District Mayor Bryan Cadogan, who said local government delegates were "underwhelmed" by Mr Bishop's speech. "We're getting used to the contempt shown by this government now, as this is the second year we've had much the same approach from ministers. "I think one person may accidentally have clapped." Mr Cadogan said it brought more "unrealistic pressure" on councils. "It's pretty hard going when you're all, as councils, faced with mounting costs, huge rate rises and then there's strong conversation around rates capping." Otago regional councillor Michael Laws described local government as a "make-work scheme". "It's a whole series of people with vision statements, policy and plans and agendas that really just create work for themselves ... and impede in the most negative way on the daily lives of us all." The government's response to local and regional council bureaucrats and "ineffectual governors" was deserved, he said. Cr Laws said his reading of Mr Bishop's speech was all the regional council's work under way on plans and policy statements would have to stop and this would include the regional policy statement in mediation. There would be a full briefing at the council today on the situation, he said. Yesterday, the Otago Daily Times asked councils across the South what they made of the announcement. Most said it was too early to make a detailed comment on the announcement and they would take time to consider how it would affect their operations. Several were unable respond to the ODT's questions before deadline. —Additional reporting APL staff
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
MP's View: Housing cut as homelessness up
We need more warm dry homes across Dunedin. Owning a home should be an easier option for people, and renting should be secure. Christopher Luxon has put property speculators first, handing them nearly $3billion in tax breaks while families struggle with rising bills. Housing projects under way under Labour to address the social housing waitlist in Dunedin were ruthlessly cut by the current government last month. The National-led government made the decision to cancel the builds of 40 one- to two-bedroom homes on Carroll St in Central Dunedin, along with a further 32 on Stafford St and 11 on Albertson Ave in Port Chalmers — 83 homes this city desperately needs. The Carroll St site already had extensive planning undertaken, including the demolition of 16 state homes — the site was vacant and ready to go. I wrote to Housing Minister Chris Bishop in April asking why the Carroll St development was still on hold at the time. The minister wrote back stating the government was working to deliver social housing where it was needed most. His response goes directly against the decision to cancel these builds. The units planned for Carroll St would have been the most sought-after size and close to the city centre and community services. This government also shows little to no regard for homelessness. It recently cut $1b from the emergency housing budget on the false pretence that demand for housing was reducing. Frontline housing providers know this is not the case and have frequently told politicians, including government ministers, that there are more people on the streets as a direct result of the government's policies. Changes to the criteria by a National minister about who can access emergency housing has directly led to more people sleeping rough. Changes to eligibility criteria mean fewer people are qualifying to get emergency housing. And at least a fifth of those coming off the emergency housing list are not going to warm dry homes of their own but to whanau, friends or other precarious situations. In Dunedin, this is apparent in the number of tents at the Oval increasing in recent months. Taieri MP Ingrid Leary and I are meeting a range of social services about these housing issues and will host Labour's housing spokesman, Kieran McAnulty, in Dunedin next month. Labour will put affordability first, making it easier to buy, better to rent, and building more homes. Dunedin needs not only housing but also social support. Many of the groups that provide this help have had their funding cut. Cutting funding while cancelling housing developments is a recipe for more homelessness.
Scoop
a day ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Councils ‘Blindsided' By Decision To Halt Planning Work
Councils have been blindsided by the Government's call to halt planning work, which they say will have "unintended consequences". Resource Management Act (RMA) Reform Minister Chris Bishop has put a stop to councils working on District and Regional Plans until the new RMA legislation takes effect. "Rather than let these pricey, pointless planning and policy processes play out, we will be giving councils clarity on where to focus their efforts while they await the new planning system," Bishop said at the Local Government NZ conference in Christchurch on Wednesday. The shake-up of the RMA is expected to come into effect in 2027. Christchurch city councillor Sara Templeton said her council is working a plan change on noise in the central city, which could be placed under threat. The plan change was about "finding a balance between people living in town and the need for a vibrant nightlife", she said. "I'd be frustrated if we couldn't do that work with our communities. "The top-down approach from central government at the moment has had multiple unintended impacts." Cr Templeton called on the Government to work more closely with councils. The Kaikōura District Council has been working through a review of its District Plan, which was adopted in 2008. Council chief executive Will Doughty said the announcement will stifle the council's attempts to make changes to benefit the community. "We have just awarded a contract to our consultants to work on the first two or three chapters. "We always knew reform was underway, but we took an approach to respond to the needs of our community, while being flexible enough to review and respond to any changes." Mr Doughty said the council faced criticism that the "rules are prohibitive", so it was keen to update the plan. Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said his council has been reviewing parts of its District Plan, but its efforts were impacted by constant changes from central Government. "The Government has been signalling changing requirements for a long time, and we wish they would just get on and do it so we can get on and do what we need to do." Mr Kircher said councils had called on the Government to stop signalling changes ahead of legislation, as it set "unrealistic expectations for the community". "Once the Government makes these announcements, people expect us to implement the changes, but it takes time to go through the planning process." Mr Bishop said money is wasted on planning review processes, which is required under the existing RMA. 'The Government will suspend councils' mandatory RMA requirements to undertake plan and regional policy statement reviews every ten years, and the requirement to implement national planning standards." Mr Bishop said there will be some exemptions, including private plan changes and natural hazards planning.
