Councillors debate three-waters co-operation
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
Waimakariri’s councillors are divided over whether to co-operate with the three-waters reform process.
The Waimakariri District Council on Tuesday voted in favour of receiving a staff report on a schedule of properties to be submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs, but four councillors voted against it.
Mayor Dan Gordon voted to receive the report.
"Hopefully this is just an academic exercise, because there is a lot of water to go under the bridge," he said, in reference to a pending Court of Appeal case about three-waters infrastructure ownership, and the October general election.
In a shake-up last month, the government is now proposing 10 large regional water service entities across the country, instead of four. It wants the new entities to own the infrastructure, rather than local councils, to better fund future investment. The National Party says it will repeal Labour's changes if it comes to power in October.
Deputy mayor Neville Atkinson said he was concerned about the council’s ability to respond to a natural disaster without the infrastructure and associated staff.
"We are going to have to respond in the event of a natural disaster for years to come even if we no longer own the assets, because our community will expect us too."
Councillor Philip Redmond was among those against co-operating with the reform process.
"We are acting in good faith and that is all very well, but the government hasn’t acted in good faith, it’s not listening to us, so I’m voting against it.
"Giving them this list is like giving the burglar the alarm code."
Three-waters manager Kalley Simpson said the schedule was to help the Department of Internal Affairs's National Transition Unit identify what land would need to be handed over to the new regional entity and what would remain with the council.
"The way the Water Services Legalisation Bill is written, if we don’t put together a list, the default position is that all land that are wholly and partially related to the provision of water services are transferred."
The draft schedule identified 270 properties, including 74 solely used for drinking water, wastewater or stormwater services.
A further 112 properties were used for multiple purposes, 18 were partly occupied by water service assets, and 66 properties were on road reserve, Crown, private or Environment Canterbury land.
PROTECTING WAIMAKARIRI'S COASTAL STRIP
Councillors also voted to re-adopt the Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw, which was due to expire on 5 July, as an interim measure while council staff conduct a review of the bylaw.
The bylaw provides a framework for protecting the Waimakariri district’s coastal strip, home to native birdlife.
It seeks to restrict vehicle use, horses, motor bikes and dogs.
Councillor Al Blackie said the bylaw needed to have "more teeth" to be effective.
"A lot of the people who offend are locals because they know there’s no teeth."
A working party has meanwhile been established to begin work on a representation review ahead of the 2025 local government elections.
Waimakariri District Council governance manager Sarah Nichols said the last representation review, ahead of last year’s elections, was based on the 2018 Census data.
It was hoped this year’s Census data would be available in September/October.
"The last Census data we used was getting a little old and we know the population has changed, especially in Woodend and in east Rangiora, and there are pockets of growth in other areas."
One of the considerations would be whether the growing urban area of Woodend/Pegasus/Ravenswood needed its own ward, or whether it would continue being part of the Kaiapoi-Woodend ward.
Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?
Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱
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48.1% Yes
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50% No
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1.9% Other - I'll share below
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
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