Latest news with #InvercargillCityCouncil
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Three Waters services to be kept in-house
The Invercargill City Council has accepted a recommendation from one of its committees to establish a council-operated enhanced service for Three Waters delivery. Infrastructure and projects committee chairman Cr Grant Dermody said the recommendation represented an important step in addressing the future needs of Invercargill. ''How we deliver Three Waters services is a once-in-a-generation decision, and its impacts will span our entire community for many years to come,'' he said in a statement. The provision of Three Waters services was one of the key issues outlined in tandem with the council's draft annual plan 2025-26. A council-operated enhanced service was the council's preferred option. It also consulted on two other options: establishing an Invercargill council-controlled organisation, and a Southland-wide council-controlled organisation. Of the 495 submissions the council received on the draft plan, 188 were about Three Waters. Three-quarters of them agreed with the preferred option. Consultation was required under central government's Local Water Done Well legislation, introduced to ensure water services nationally are finanically sustainable and effectively managed. While Invercargill was in a better position than many other local authorities, having regularly maintained its Three Waters network and invested in associated infrastructure, maintaining the status quo was no longer viable, Mr Dermody said. ''Council must draw a line in the sand, to make sure that the future of Three Waters delivery within our community is practical and fit-for-purpose for future generations,'' he said. ''As a council, we believe the most important outcome is to provide an efficient, effective service that is the most practical for our community in the long term. We also strongly believe in local decision-making.'' The council-operated enhanced service represented the second-least costly option for water services delivery for ratepayers to 2034, and in the long term was the lowest-cost option considered, Mr Dermody said. With this option, the average annual water services rate increase between 2027 and 2034 would be 6.26%, or $150 per household. All councils are required to submit their water services delivery plan to the Department of Internal Affairs by September. — APL
RNZ News
7 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Nobby Clark delays policy over diversity concern
Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark says he would leave the policy's adoption on the table while he met with council staff to discuss implications. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark has drawn the ire of some councillors after stalling the council's new procurement policy over concerns with a diversity question. The issue relates to the Invercargill City Council now asking businesses whether they record diversity data as part of the tender process, noting they would not be excluded if they didn't. On Tuesday, Clark chaired a meeting where the updated procurement policy was set for approval following a recommendation from the finance and policy committee on 20 May. But the mayor - who was absent from that committee meeting - said he received feedback from "a number of councillors" uncomfortable with the policy dealing with diversity data. Clark said he would leave its adoption on the table while he met with council staff to discuss implications. Mana whenua representative Evelyn Cook said collecting the data was a small matter that didn't cost anything. "If a contractor feels disadvantaged by the fact that we asked the question, they need to be looking in the mirror, because I don't think this is an unusual request in 2025. It was in 1965. I would be sad if we chose to return there," Cook said. Councillor Lesley Soper, who chaired the finance and policy committee where the recommendation was approved, took strong exception to Clark using his power as council chair to delay adoption. Soper said she was unaware councillors had gone behind her back to raise issues and believed Clark was trying to usurp the democratic process. The move set a dangerous precedent for council because it showed outcomes at committee level could be changed down the line, she said. "I strongly protest this abuse of council's process." Councillor Alex Crackett also took issue with the mayor, saying the process was not being run correctly and was a "perversion of democracy". Despite pressure from some, Clark backed his decision to defer the policy's adoption. Other questions asked under the council's revised policy include whether the business is local and whether it monitors carbon impact. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Invercargill To Consider Ethical Procurement Amid Scrutiny Of Illegal Israeli Settlements
Press Release – Invercargill City Council The motion, brought by local residents and members of Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), was presented to councillors yesterday. If this passes Invercargill will become the next New Zealand city helping to end Israeli impunity for human rights … Yesterday (Tuesday 27 May), Invercargill City Council agreed to commission a staff report on a proposed change to its procurement policy, aiming to exclude companies involved in building or maintaining illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The motion, brought by local residents and members of Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), was presented to councillors yesterday. 'We're delighted Invercargill councillors have taken this first step,' said one of the presenters. 'If this passes Invercargill will become the next New Zealand city helping to end Israeli impunity for human rights violations.' If adopted, Invercargill would join Christchurch City, Nelson City, and Environment Canterbury, which have already aligned procurement with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334. That resolution, co-sponsored by a National government in 2016, declares Israeli settlements a 'flagrant violation under international law' and a major obstacle to peace. It calls on states to distinguish between Israel and the territories it has occupied since 1967. A similar motion is being prepared for Environment Southland Council. 'Western governments have failed to hold Israel to account. Last year the International Court of Justice ruled Israel's 57-year occupation itself is illegal and breaches international law on apartheid and racial segregation,' the group member added. 'This is a small but important step to ensure we're not complicit. More must follow.' Invercargill PSNA spokespersons stressed the proposal is not a sanction against Israel, but a narrow ethical measure. 'This is about local responsibility,' the team said. 'We're grateful to the councillors who showed leadership by requesting the report and giving local residents a say in upholding international law, which protects us all.' 'We look forward to the report coming back to council and urge councillors to stand with cities across Aotearoa to ensure ratepayer funds are spent ethically, and in line with foreign policy.' The date for the council vote will be set once the staff report is complete.
Scoop
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Invercargill To Consider Ethical Procurement Amid Scrutiny Of Illegal Israeli Settlements
Yesterday (Tuesday 27 May), Invercargill City Council agreed to commission a staff report on a proposed change to its procurement policy, aiming to exclude companies involved in building or maintaining illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The motion, brought by local residents and members of Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), was presented to councillors yesterday. 'We're delighted Invercargill councillors have taken this first step,' said one of the presenters. 'If this passes Invercargill will become the next New Zealand city helping to end Israeli impunity for human rights violations.' If adopted, Invercargill would join Christchurch City, Nelson City, and Environment Canterbury, which have already aligned procurement with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334. That resolution, co-sponsored by a National government in 2016, declares Israeli settlements a 'flagrant violation under international law' and a major obstacle to peace. It calls on states to distinguish between Israel and the territories it has occupied since 1967. A similar motion is being prepared for Environment Southland Council. 'Western governments have failed to hold Israel to account. Last year the International Court of Justice ruled Israel's 57-year occupation itself is illegal and breaches international law on apartheid and racial segregation,' the group member added. 'This is a small but important step to ensure we're not complicit. More must follow.' Invercargill PSNA spokespersons stressed the proposal is not a sanction against Israel, but a narrow ethical measure. 'This is about local responsibility,' the team said. 'We're grateful to the councillors who showed leadership by requesting the report and giving local residents a say in upholding international law, which protects us all." 'We look forward to the report coming back to council and urge councillors to stand with cities across Aotearoa to ensure ratepayer funds are spent ethically, and in line with foreign policy.' The date for the council vote will be set once the staff report is complete.
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Need for ‘ethical housekeeping' on Israel involvement
Photo: ODT files Invercargill City Council staff will prepare a report exploring whether the council should support a United Nations resolution regarding illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine. In yesterday's public forum of the council meeting Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa representatives Dr Anna Palliser and Ali Smith spoke to a resolution asking the council not to buy goods and services from companies identified by the UN as being involved with illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine. Mr Smith said what they were asking for was not the boycott of Israel or sanctions. "It's a basic ethical housekeeping measure and it's about ensuring Invercargill's ratepayer funds aren't being spent on companies involved in activities that the international community and our own government consider unlawful." The Christchurch and Nelson city councils and Environment Canterbury had already decided to uphold the UN resolution, Mr Smith said. Israel planned to establish more illegal settlements, he said. "We must ensure we are not complicit. "This is a simple clear step but it sends a strong message." He asked councillors if staff could prepare a report to investigate the council adopting the resolution. Mayor Nobby Clark agreed a report was necessary. The procurement policy, presently being given its six yearly review, referred to procurement in general terms, Mr Clark said. To specifically include the Israeli situation in the policy would raise issues about other places in the world subject to UN resolutions including Somalia, Yemen and Ukraine, he said. "I'm picking such a policy would have to have a general statement that says we won't breach UN resolutions in our procurement which will cover this situation but cover other situations. Otherwise we would be constantly revisiting it."
