Latest news with #SamBroughton
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Tensions rise as man refuses to leave Selwyn council meeting
Peter Schnell presented to the Selwyn District Council's public forum but refused to vacate the seat until he received the answers he wanted from the council. Photo: Supplied A Selwyn District Council meeting ground to a halt when a public speaker refused to leave the table. Peter Schnell fronted the council demanding answers over a pit on his Creyke Road property, near Darfield, in what is a longstanding dispute between his family and the council. At the meeting, Schnell presented in the public forum but refused to leave his seat until he had an answer from the council. Mayor Sam Broughton was forced to adjourn the meeting "due to the atmosphere in the room". Schnell told the meeting there was a legal reserve on his property and claimed someone started an extraction pit in the wrong location 100 years ago. "I was always promised the titles would be moved," he said. Schnell alleged the council has allowed all manner of dumping in the pit over the years, which has left the land unproductive without a $30,000 cleanup. Schnell said the council had offered him a $13,000 compensation package and to "take responsibility for what's been dumped in this pit by the council". He said he has turned down that offer because he has spent $15,000 on lawyers seeking reparations, and has also sent the council "an account for all the material they have extracted and dumped in there". Schnell demanded "a realistic conversation of paying my account". "I want answers. After 50 years, we're starting to get a little frustrated. All you can do is offer me an insult and a compensation package." He threatened to stop paying his rates until he received a realistic answer or the council took him to court. "And I would like an answer today, so I'm going to sit here until I get one, or you can have me forcibly removed by the police." At that point Broughton, who noted that he and chief executive Sharon Mason met with Schnell recently to discuss the matter, said the councillors would not be able to provide that answer at the meeting. "We are not going to get into a backwards and forwards here." Schnell then refused to vacate the chair. Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock Broughton adjourned the meeting as members of the public gallery began to leave the heated confrontation. "This is not the way we conduct business in this chamber," the mayor said. "We are here to listen to you and we have done that sensibly, and we do not feel that is the right way to go." As the councillors, staff, and public cleared the room, Schnell rose from the chair, exclaiming "I think I've made my point" as he walked out. Mason said the council maintained its position that it has no liability, as gravel extraction was originally undertaken over 70 years ago with the consent of Schnell's grandfather. "Council ceased operations prior to 2003, and Schnell has had full control of the site since then. "Council has offered two resolution options, both including $13,000 compensation for historic use and a five-year discounted licence. One option involves Schnell purchasing the reserve land via the Department of Conservation." The offers remain open until September, she said. "Council remains committed to a fair and lawful resolution," Mason said. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Better Awareness Of Local Body Candidates Will Lift Voter Turnout
In a bid to boost voter turnout ahead of local elections this year, Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) has partnered with to ensure voters are properly informed about candidates standing in their region. gathers essential information about candidates and their policies, sourced directly from the candidates themselves, so voters can make an informed vote at election time. First launched in 2017 for parliamentary elections, the platform was expanded in 2022 to cover local elections. An understanding of candidates and their policies is one of several issues explored by LGNZ's Electoral Reform Working Group (ERWG), with the group releasing a final position paper today that includes a set of recommendations to help lift voter turnout in future elections. ERWG Chair, Nelson Mayor Nick Smith, says the group's work has identified that a lack of information about candidates is a key reason why people do not vote. 'Voters need to be able to easily access information on who is standing for election, what they stand for, and what they hope to achieve if elected. LGNZ is partnering with as an interim measure to improve our local elections in 2025,' says Mayor Nick Smith. 'Neutral third parties, such as have played an important role in supplying candidate information to voters. With the closure of 15 more community newspapers at the end of this month, the importance of this platform is now even more evident. 'I strongly encourage both candidates and voters to utilise the website to the fullest, so that New Zealanders can make informed decisions at election time. 'We are also proposing that councils for the 2025 elections provide additional orange bins at key locations such as supermarkets, malls and libraries, given the decline in post. These were used very effectively in the 2024 special Tauranga City Council election, with 86% of voting papers returned via the orange bins. 'Using to improve candidate information and orange bins for returning voting papers are just interim measures being proposed for the 2025 elections. We are recommending a far greater shakeup for future elections but this will require legislative reform. 'The current Local Electoral Act is tired and outdated. Participation rates have dropped so low they are a risk to our mandate to speak on behalf of our communities. We need to reassert the importance of local democracy and update the system, so it works better for New Zealand. We are proposing to align the local electoral system as closely as possible with the parliamentary system where voter participation is twice as high.' LGNZ President Sam Broughton says councils make decisions that impact people's lives on a daily basis. 'Councils are responsible for things like local roads, drinking water and wastewater systems, parks and public transport, rubbish and recycling to pools and libraries. It's easy to take these services for granted and for people to wonder what they get for their rates without seeing how councils shape their lives,' says Sam Broughton. 'We need those people to have their say and to vote, so that councils deliver what communities want. Delivering what 40% want isn't enough. 'LGNZ will be advocating hard for this report's recommendations, which have strong support, and we'll work to shift that support into action for the 2028 elections.' View the ERWG final position paper at: About LGNZ: LGNZ champions, connects and supports local government. We represent the national interest of councils across New Zealand to deliver more of what matters in their communities. LGNZ is involved in policy, reforms, programmes, and advocacy as well as providing advice, consultancy and training to councils and their staff.
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New BERL Report Demonstrates Councils' Substantial Contribution To Economic Growth
A new report shows local government makes a substantial and essential productivity contribution to New Zealand's economic growth. Commissioned by Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), economic consultants BERL undertook the challenge of finding hard data to quantify local government's contribution to the overall economy. The report found three different types of economic impact: · $2.2 billion from local public administration, · $20.1 billion in operational and capital spending, and · up to $500 million in long-term productivity benefits annually from network infrastructure investment to the wider economy. The report will be unveiled at LGNZ's SuperLocal25 conference, which sees elected members from around New Zealand gather at Christchurch's Te Pae Convention Centre over two days. LGNZ President Sam Broughton says this is the first time local government's productivity contribution has been assessed like this. 'BERL found that local government generates more than $500 million every year in pure productivity benefits. This isn't money that councils spend, it's the money they generate,' says Sam Broughton. 'This productivity comes from work that only councils can do, specifically the network infrastructure that councils build and maintain. For example, if you build roads, you can develop housing. If you increase public transport, you can reduce congestion, which benefits commercial trucking and allows for greater labour mobility. 'And if you invest in water infrastructure to minimise water losses, you're allowing that water to be used more productively.' Sam Broughton says the report stresses that central and local government must work in partnership, with better planning and coordination, to deliver economic growth for New Zealand. 'Local government is responsible for over a third of all government infrastructure investment each year, and councils' infrastructure investments produce economic returns far higher than central government's — nearly double the return. 'Councils will spend $77.2 billion on capital expenditure programmes over the next ten years. That's significantly higher than past councils — because today's councils are playing catch up on historic underinvestment and investing for tomorrow. 'What's clear is that local government already plays a key role in the growth of this country, and stronger partnership with central government would strengthen councils' impact on the economy and the wider community.'
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
LGNZ Calls For End Of 'Tug Of War' On Local Government's Purpose
Local government's purpose needs to endure rather than flip-flop with every government, according to Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ). This follows the introduction of the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill to Parliament yesterday, which is part of Government's System Improvements programme to reform local government. LGNZ President Sam Broughton says it is frustrating to see each successive government change local government's purpose every few years, especially when councils' main focus remains delivering critical services to their communities. 'This tug of war wastes time and energy that local government could invest in delivery. The fundamental challenge that councils face is not their purpose, but their lack of funding and financing tools,' says Sam Broughton. 'New funding tools for councils are about sharing the costs more fairly between local and central government, rather than just giving councils more money. 'We need to move past the political sound bites and focus on better partnership to deliver the right outcomes. The wider issue is the need to ensure the right levers are in place for councils." Sam Broughton says that LGNZ welcomes the elements of the Bill that take a commonsense approach. 'We welcome the proposal that councils should have a standard set of standing orders. This just makes sense and will increase consistency around the country. 'We also support introducing councils' ability to able to extend Chief Executive contracts for another five years without advertising. 'However, there are issues in the Bill that need to be ironed out through the select committee process. That includes that 'core services' don't adequately describe regional council functions, missing out things like flood management and biosecurity. 'At our SuperLocal conference in Christchurch this week, we will release research that shows councils already prioritise 'core' work.'
RNZ News
08-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Selwyn Water company 'continues local ownership, prevents privatisation'
The Selwyn waste water treatment plant stays in the hands of locals under the new plan, says the mayor. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Selwyn District Council has become the first in the country to establish a company to manage water and wastewater. Selwyn Water Limited was set up at a cost of $2 million under the government's Local Water Done Well legislation, which let councils create entities that could borrow more than councils were able to on their own. It would provide drinking and wastewater services to about 30,000 households and more than 8000 businesses. Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton was joined by Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Selwyn MP Nicola Grigg at a formal launch event at the Pines Wastewater Treatment Plant on Tuesday. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Broughton said it was a milestone for the district and would future-proof its water infrastructure. "A stand-alone CCO [council controlled organisation] to manage our water and wastewater means we have continued local ownership, prevents the privatisation of our water assets, it means we think about a long-term future and brings in governance excellence to the management of our water," he said. The council voted for the model in April, despite about 87 percent of 424 public submissions against the proposal and in favour of keeping water services in-house. Broughton said public conerns about potential higher costs and reduced local control had been addressed. "We take all community feedback really seriously, we had hearings, we had people come and talk to us about what they had written down and during that process it became really clear the community congratulated us as a district for the investment that had already been made and that was part of the reason; 'why change it because you're already successful now'," he said. "Another key factor was that people were scared of privatisation, so we've made sure that has been dealt with too and the primary legislation meant that that couldn't happen as well. The continued local ownership and influence for the community is also taken account in the set-up because this isn't a separation for the community. Selwyn Water will continue to hear from our community to be a part of future decisions." Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Water charges were expected to be higher for ratepayers initially because of set up costs but cheaper after about 10 years. "We put aside $2 million to set up the CCO and that has been paid for and some of that will be repaid through water charges. Our water charges in Selwyn have always been separate from rates and capital values of properties so that will continue with the new organisation being set up," Broughton said. "Anything we do with water needs to be done sensibly and thinking not just about today but for the generations to come as well." An average 14.2 per cent rates rise took effect for Selwyn ratepayers from July. The council said an in-house model would limit its ability to borrow for large-scale infrastructure projects needed to support Selwyn's rapid growth. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon The CCO had the ability to borrow up to 500 percent of its revenue through the Local Government Funding Agency, compared to the 280 percent cap for councils managing water in-house, it said. Local Government Minister Simon Watts said the launch of Selwyn district's water service entity marked a significant milestone of water reform. The council was the the first to get its plan approved by the government ahead of the national deadline on 3 September. "I look forward to seeing similar Local Water Done Well plans progress in the coming months," Watts said. "Selwyn District has demonstrated it has a financially sustainable plan for the delivery of water services that meet health, quality, and environmental standards, along with community expectations. "I will be watching with interest how Selwyn Water manages the projected price increases for consumers during the initial years of their plan. I expect the Commerce Commission, as the economic regulator, will closely monitor to ensure the delivery of forecast levels of capital investment, justify the price." Over the next six months, the council would transfer relevant assets, staff, and systems to Selwyn Water. Stormwater services would remain managed in-house by the council. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
