About twenty-five of us ventured out on a dark and rainy Winter’s evening to WDCs ‘Meet the Candidates’ at the Pirongia Community Hall Chapel on 18th August. What was on our minds?
…potholed roads are not fit for purpose; council-owned historic buildings are not properly maintained; hazardous 1080 aerial poison operation over our drinking water catchment is imminent; our once thriving village pub frustratingly stands empty for over eighteen months; the scrapyard is a toxic hazard, subdivisions are built without pavements or crossings; an ugly and harmful 5G mast was erected despite residents opposition in a residential location close to the primary school… and more!
Overall, we share concerns and frustrations at rates escalating out of control and poor value for money delivered in basic utilities. Waipā has seen a significant increase in residents unable to pay their rates. Next year WDC demands >15% increase in rates, followed by a 9% increase the following year; alongside costs of living increases, financial pressures on us all are escalating.
Did the Waipā candidates listen to our concerns? Did they respond intelligently, authentically and respectfully to the genuine questions we all posed? Better Waipā member, Les Bennett, candidate for the forthcoming regional election in Pirongia and Kakepuku Ward, provided some honest, common sense answers to diverse questions from local residents. But uncomfortable truths were difficult for other candidates to swallow.
Naomi Pollock appeared personable and was previously unknown to most of the audience, including me. She introduced herself as a businesswoman and mother with a PhD in tourism from the University of Waikato. She admitted to asking someone just prior to the meeting about what our local issues were, because her family lived outside the village. Naomi’s blurb did not convince me of her suitability for the role.
Clare St Pierre lives in Pirongia and is well-known locally and established as a Councillor, she is also a Mayoral candidate. Prior to the meeting, I had questioned her about her published proposed fiscal policy, which includes vanity projects like new libraries and selling ratepayer (council) owned property assets and leasing them back in a Public Private Philanthropic Partnership (PPPP)-type arrangement. Clare seemed unsure about the specific details, as she claimed: “a single investor such as a Kiwisaver Fund would purchase an existing asset and lease it back to Council.” Clare did not expand on any practicalities in the meeting, and as Les aptly pointed out, the economy is in recession and WDC are $392 million in debt, so we need a focus on reducing costs, not entering into new builds and long-term commercial lease agreements.
When asked “If the Government recommended WDC to once again implement covid ‘vaccine’ passes, would they comply?” Susan O’Regan, incumbent Mayor, confirmed: ‘Yes, they would, because questioning this was not required.’ I wonder what other discriminatory, anti-science policies Susan’s Groupthink approach approves, without applying critical thinking skills?
Mike Pettit, principal of Cambridge Primary School attended with his wife. He is also an experienced Councillor and Mayoral candidate and promoted a ‘positive action’ mindset where projects like the proposed cycle track between Te Awamutu and Pirongia could be accomplished with a combination of volunteers, sponsorship and private investment (similar to his school’s swimming pool). He certainly came across as a confident speaker and potential leader. But none of the above candidates acknowledged that there needed to be a Root Cause Analysis of WDCs continuing overspend and lack of transparency. Some common sense is needed and severe cutbacks are urgently required. As Les pointed out, a recent OIA revealed $14million was unnecessarily spent in contractors fees in one year, including consultants with conflicts of interest. More accountability is crucial.
Susan embarrassingly could not respond to many of the questions we posed. For instance, she claimed she didn’t know anything about the imminent aerial 1080 poison operation on Mt Pirongia, which unethically contaminates our drinking water catchment. She also claimed to know nothing of the eyesore that is the contaminated site in and around the scrapyard (Alexandra Engineering) - a site which apparently cannot be sold because the required environmental clean-up operation would not be financially feasible. We asked why ratepayers are forced to pick up the bill for years of someone’s irresponsible actions and environmental neglect? O’Regan dismissed this topic as being part of Waikato Regional Council’s (WRCs) role. I’m confused how she was unaware that for decades Pirongia residents have been communicating with WRC and been ignored. We’ve repeatedly requested a solution to the oil and chemical pollution and health, safety and fire risks from items dumped inside and outside the site. I felt the frustration in the room; our Mayor seems totally out of touch with Pirongia residents.
Contrary to Clare and Susan’s claims, PPPPs are not a ‘new, innovative’ approach to funding infrastructure. Les was the only candidate who understood the widespread damage overseas PPPPs are causing. PPPPs lead to corporate and regulatory capture, stakeholder capitalism means commercial profits always overpower and erode citizen’s rights and protections. New Zealand is not unique; we can learn from others’ mistakes and build a more secure future for the next generation.
With special thanks to Ruth Webb, her family and the Pirongia Community Committee for organising and hosting this event.
