Latest news with #Cocurullo
Scoop
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Northland Councils Explore Collaborative Opportunities For Water Service Delivery
Press Release – Whangarei District Council The Coalition Governments Local Water Done Well programme has been established to address Aotearoas long-standing water infrastructure challenges. Northland's District Councils have each heard feedback from their communities on the future of water services delivery, and established a cross-Council working group to work through what collaboration across Councils could look like. The Coalition Government's 'Local Water Done Well' programme has been established to address Aotearoa's long-standing water infrastructure challenges. It empowers Councils to decide how they will deliver water services, while meeting increased regulations, supporting growth and being financially sustainable. It encourages Councils to work with neighbouring districts on solutions that could benefit the larger region. Mayor of Whangārei and Chair of the newly established 'Northland Water Services Working Group', Vince Cocurullo said, 'Each Council has now completed formal consultation with the community where options were proposed for how drinking, waste and storm water services should be delivered in the future.' Consultations indicated that in Whangārei there was a clear preference for keeping its water services in-house with increased collaboration with the other Northland Councils, while Kaipara's results were in favour of a Northland Council Controlled Organisation (CCO), and Far North showed preference for a strengthened in-house model with improvements to delivery, governance, compliance and financial management. 'While options and preferences in each district vary, all of us are committed to getting around the table and evaluating the opportunities of working together and solving some of the challenges we all experience,' said Mayor Cocurullo. The Northland Water Services Working Group is made up of elected members from each Council, supported by their staff. Representatives from the Department of Internal Affairs and an independent advisor will attend each meeting, and the working group will make recommendations to each Council for decision making later this year. 'Whangārei, Kaipara and Far North District Councils have been working together to model the financials for a Northland CCO so that option could be included for consultation,' said Mayor Cocurullo. 'All three District Councils are committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability, efficiency and regulatory compliance of water services in Northland. With the community's feedback, we are able to do further investigations on collaborative opportunities, such as the viability of shared or managed services, or a Northland CCO.' Each District Council is required to submit their water service delivery plan to Central Government before 3 September 2025. More information about Local Water Done Well and the results of each Council's consultation can be found below. Notes
Scoop
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Northland Councils Explore Collaborative Opportunities For Water Service Delivery
Northland's District Councils have each heard feedback from their communities on the future of water services delivery, and established a cross-Council working group to work through what collaboration across Councils could look like. The Coalition Government's 'Local Water Done Well' programme has been established to address Aotearoa's long-standing water infrastructure challenges. It empowers Councils to decide how they will deliver water services, while meeting increased regulations, supporting growth and being financially sustainable. It encourages Councils to work with neighbouring districts on solutions that could benefit the larger region. Mayor of Whangārei and Chair of the newly established 'Northland Water Services Working Group', Vince Cocurullo said, 'Each Council has now completed formal consultation with the community where options were proposed for how drinking, waste and storm water services should be delivered in the future.' Consultations indicated that in Whangārei there was a clear preference for keeping its water services in-house with increased collaboration with the other Northland Councils, while Kaipara's results were in favour of a Northland Council Controlled Organisation (CCO), and Far North showed preference for a strengthened in-house model with improvements to delivery, governance, compliance and financial management. 'While options and preferences in each district vary, all of us are committed to getting around the table and evaluating the opportunities of working together and solving some of the challenges we all experience,' said Mayor Cocurullo. The Northland Water Services Working Group is made up of elected members from each Council, supported by their staff. Representatives from the Department of Internal Affairs and an independent advisor will attend each meeting, and the working group will make recommendations to each Council for decision making later this year. 'Whangārei, Kaipara and Far North District Councils have been working together to model the financials for a Northland CCO so that option could be included for consultation,' said Mayor Cocurullo. 'All three District Councils are committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability, efficiency and regulatory compliance of water services in Northland. With the community's feedback, we are able to do further investigations on collaborative opportunities, such as the viability of shared or managed services, or a Northland CCO.' Each District Council is required to submit their water service delivery plan to Central Government before 3 September 2025. More information about Local Water Done Well and the results of each Council's consultation can be found below. Whangarei District Council: Kaipara District Council: Far North District Council: Notes
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Budget 2025: Rates rebates, business tax changes will add up, Whangārei Mayor says
'The big thing is that they haven't cut anything. The hospital is still on the cards and investment into the roads is not being cut.' Cocurullo said improvements to the rates rebate scheme will make a big difference in Northland. The threshold change means every SuperGold cardholder with NZ Superannuation as their only income and rates higher than $2000 will be eligible for the full rebate. The maximum rebate will also increase from $790 to $805 a year. Whangārei has very high numbers of people applying for the rates rebate each year, including people living in retirement villages who own their own units, Cocurullo said. 'We have a huge amount of rates rebates – it's nice to have a little bit more for some of those who need it.' The Investment Boost tax package will be relevant to lots of small businesses around Northland, Cocurullo said. The $1.7b-a-year package will allow businesses to deduct 20% of the cost of new asset – such as machinery, vehicles and technology – on top of depreciation, meaning a lower tax bill in the year of purchase. This will encourage business investment and help productivity in Northland – where businesses tend to run on the smell of an oily rag, he said. However, NorthChamber chief executive Leah McKerrow was more muted about the Investment Boost, saying it was unlikely to make much difference in the short term. 'It assumes that people will be able to afford to purchase new assets in the first place. It will be great if companies can afford to invest but do they have the capital?' Another concern was the changes to KiwiSaver, she said. The Government is halving its yearly contribution from $521 to $260.72. However, the default rate of employee and matching employer contributions will rise from 3% to 4% of salary and wages, phased in over three years. McKerrow was concerned about how businesses will pay for this increase, as they have no extra funds, and could look to pay for it by employing people on a lower wage. Overall, she thought the Budget was restrained and unlikely to lead to much growth in the short term. However, that meant the Budget would not add to inflation, helping to keep interest rates down, which would be good for business, she said. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Liz Cassidy-Canning, chief executive of charity Whare Āwhina, was more forthright in her opinion of the Budget, calling it disappointing. 'Our most vulnerable are invisible in it,' she said. Cassidy-Canning was pleased $15 million was included in the Budget to fund community-based food banks, like Whakaora Kai Food Rescue Northland, for another year. But she said the need in Northland is high and families in need are still missing out. Changes to Working for Families – in which eligible families will get an extra $14 a fortnight – will not even cover the rising cost of living, she said. Changes to pay equity claims – which were revealed to save the Government $12.8b – will have an impact on low-paid women workers, Cassidy-Canning said. 'Pay equity does make a huge difference nationwide. We can see it was a cost-cutting exercise, there's no other way to see it.' Cassidy-Canning said she would have liked to see more funding for community organisations, which are able to prove the positive impact they have for the community's most vulnerable people. 'Community organisations are working really hard, we need the Government to recognise that. Come and measure our impact.' She was also disappointed more funding has been set aside for boot camps for young serious offenders, despite a trial where two of the 10 young people absconded. Cassidy-Canning said everyone will have to wait and see to understand the impact of a new Social Investment Fund, which is allocated funding of $190m. Another area where Northlanders will have to wait and see is over more funding for the 2023 weather events. A further $219m funding was announced to repair local roads, with a focus on councils in the eastern North Island. However, Cocurullo said it is still possible Northland councils could be eligible for more funding too. Whangārei alone has some $20m of recovery work still to be done, he said. Do you have questions about the Budget? Ask our experts – business editor at large Liam Dann, senior political correspondent Audrey Young and Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny – in a Herald Premium online Q&A here at at 9.30am, Friday, May 23.
