Latest news with #FarNorthCouncil
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Signs Of Progress In Tobacco Control Sector: New Bill And Council Action Offer Hope
Amid recent setbacks in New Zealand's Smokefree efforts, two new developments bring fresh momentum to tobacco harm reduction that have renewed hope in our goals for a healthier Aotearoa. Health spokesperson Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall has launched the Tobacco Transparency Bill, aimed at stopping tobacco industry lobbying in health policy. "Around the world, tobacco companies have a long history of influencing and weakening health policies to better suit their bottom line. This Bill will address those influences and help us protect people's health…," said Dr Verrall.[1] This Bill follows growing calls for stronger lobbying regulations in New Zealand politics. There is a pressing need for greater transparency and accountability, especially among those whose decisions directly impact public health outcomes. If passed, the Tobacco Transparency Bill would help the government understand its duties under international law and could lead to stronger rules around emerging nicotine products. Similarly, Far North District Council votes to develop a Smokefree/Vapefree policy for public spaces. The council's decision follows a new study linking vaping to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), adding urgency to calls for regulation.[2] These developments offer timely encouragement for Smokefree and Vapefree advocates across Aotearoa as we mark World Smokefree May. Jasmine Graham, National Tobacco Control Manager at Hāpai te Hauora says, "While major challenges remain, these steps offer hope that momentum toward a healthier, smokefree Aotearoa is not lost." Notes: [2] "Far North Council Moves to Adopt Smokefree and Vape-free Policy," NZ Herald, last modified May 8, 2025,
RNZ News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Problem-plagued Far North water scheme to be reviewed
Far North District Council headquarters, Memorial Ave, Kaikohe. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf Far North District councillors have ordered an immediate, independent review of a controversial Kaitāia water project dogged by delays and cost overruns. The Sweetwater project was launched in 2010 by then Far North Mayor Wayne Brown, with the aim of tapping into an aquifer north of Kaitāia and reducing the town's reliance on water from the drought-prone Awanui River. Water from the Aupōuri aquifer finally made its way into Kaitāia's town supply in January this year - 15 years later - at a cost thought to be around $17 million. Uncertainty over the cost of the project has long been a bugbear for Awanui-based councillor Mate Radich, who at Thursday's meeting moved that the council order a judicial review. Radich told fellow councillors the project was supposed to take five years, but instead took 15. He had become especially frustrated, unable to get consistent information about the project's total cost. Figures he had been given by council staff since 2021 ranged from a low of $13.5 million to a high of $18.9m, with three different figures - varying by almost $4m - provided just this year. The figure earlier provided to RNZ under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act was $17.2m to 30 June 2023. "Ratepayers have a right to know how much it cost," Radich said. "I know a judicial review is expensive, but given the mess, what other option do I have? It's so important to bring out the truth." However, Mayor Moko Tepania said judicial reviews cost "a heck of a lot of money". He proposed ordering an immediate independent review instead, which could provide the same answers but at lower cost to ratepayers. Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford, who seconded Radich's original motion, wanted assurances any review would be "absolutely independent". She was unconvinced it would have sufficient integrity if it was carried out internally. "We're not looking to lay blame, but we need to understand what happened so we don't make the same mistakes going forward." Councillor Ann Court said she was concerned about the expense of a review, and the cumulative cost of the council's ad hoc decisions over the past two and half-years. "If this is just a 'gotcha' exercise, I don't think it would be a useful spend of ratepayer money." However, if the review led to useful lessons, it could have merit, Court said. Chief executive Guy Holroyd did not want to guess the cost of a review, but said it would be "tens and tens of thousands of dollars". His preference was to gather the information internally to keep costs down, then have it audited by external experts. The amended motion, for an independent review to be completed by July, was passed by a clear majority of councillors. The Sweetwater project was dogged by problems almost from the outset, including difficulties accessing the bores because they were on private land. The pipeline also had to cross private land to reach Kaitāia. In 2013, newly elected Mayor John Carter halted the project and called in the Serious Fraud Office. Its investigation found some council members and employees failed to follow internal processes, but there was not enough evidence to lay charges. In 2019 however, after Kaitāia had been hammered by a series of severe droughts, the Sweetwater project was revived. In 2020 a cash injection from the Provincial Growth Fund paid for temporary pipes carrying bore water to the treatment plant at Okahu Road. However, it turned out the silica-rich aquifer water was unsuitable for a plant designed to treat river water. After much technical tweaking and the installation of new equipment, water from the Sweetwater bore finally started flowing through Kaitāia's taps in January this year. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
