Exposures

As someone who worked in the racing industry at the integrity level for over 40 years I can tell there are few certainties in horse racing.

Mayor Victor Luca campaigned at the 2022 election that he would lobby central Government for better funding of council infrastructure and then explains he left it up to Local Government New Zealand to do the lobbying. Brendan Horan, who campaigned and won a list seat for New Zealand First on their policies proclaims “anyone promising rates reform as an election tactic was selling a fantasy”. I find myself in the bizarre position of being slammed by people for promoting the very policies they support. Читать дальше...

Ratepayers and local district councils suffer from an inefficient rates and infrastructure financing system. A paradigm shift in our thinking is required to prevent fixed income homeowners being forced out of their homes and stretching household budgets beyond limits for most of the rest. Several candidates vying for Whakatāne District Council suggest we should not be campaigning for recovery of GST on property rates since politicians have tried before and failed. Others suggest capping rates without alternative funding options... Читать дальше...

Source Diane McCarthy PDF

REAL Rates Reform is upon us and the way to get is to make it an election issue in 2026

You can stand on the sideline and rubbish the idea, or you can roll up your sleeves and support the campaign to bring real relief to unaffordable rates.

Who’s side are . . . → Read More: Article: Candidate promises to focus on rates reform

This campaign of lies and misinformation has found it’s way into the election campaign meetings now and the problem is that candidates have a limited time to address audiences with their policies and vision for a better Whakatāne, without having to correct politically motivated BS. . . . → Read More: Letter: Frustrating campaign of misinformation

Source Dave Stewart PDF

I feel I must respond to Keith Melville’s latest letter “GST refund not the answer” (Beacon, September 24).

Mr Melville has been vocal in claiming he wants the council to offer ratepayers a better deal but supports only candidates who offer very little in the way of substance.

Nationally, the local . . . → Read More: Opinion: Real reform required, not tinkering

tīpuna

1. (noun) ancestors, grandparents – plural form of tipuna and the eastern dialect variation of tūpuna.

Vote for Dave Stewart for Whakatāne / Ōhope Ward Vote for Dave Stewart for Whakatāne / Ōhope Ward

1/. What makes me the best person to represent the Whakatāne / Ōhope ward?

Source 1News PDF

While the National led coalition government is busy telling local councils how to spend money, they’re spending $70 million doing exactly what they’re telling councils not to.

The Government has announced a $70 million investment package aimed at supercharging New Zealand’s events and tourism sectors, introducing new money to attract global . . . → Read More: Article: Govt unveils $70m fund to lure global acts, support major events

Source Charlie Mitchell PDF

ANALYSIS: The price of clean water will not be shared evenly. As councils plan to pump $50 billion into water infrastructure over the coming decade, some households face paying thousands of dollars more per year, while others escape with only modest rises.

The figures, revealed in council plans submitted to . . . → Read More: Article: The great water divide: Winners, losers, and the price households will pay