North Canterbury's councils want the new government to listen to their communities
By local democracy reporter David Hill:
"Listen to our communities" is the message from North Canterbury’s council leaders to the incoming government.
The councils are united in their call for the Government, which is elected after October 14, to engage with and listen to local government.
Councils have been bombarded by a number of reforms from central government, including the affordable water and Resource Management Act reforms, and the future for local government review.
Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said if the incoming Government is prepared to listen, "we are in business".
"But if they want to centralise and regionalise everything it will complicate things and make it difficult for communities to be heard."
Hurunui mayor Marie Black said her council was waiting on the outcome of the election to see what direction the proposed reforms will take.
"We are just waiting for October 14 to know what’s going to happen with all the reform.
"We are definitely waiting for some clear policy direction."
Black said she wanted the incoming government to put more resourcing into rural health.
Kaikōura mayor Craig Mackle said engaging with Canterbury councils "should be easy".
He said the Canterbury Mayoral Forum worked together well and presented a united voice.
"You expect being a wee voice, you are not going to be heard - I’m going to be stomped on, but there seems to be an understanding that what’s good us is good for them."
The reforms needed cross-party support, otherwise tax dollars were wasted by the next government unravelling the previous government’s legislation, he said.
Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said he wanted "a commitment to localism" and a review of the funding model to support local government.
He also wanted water infrastructure to remain in local ownership and control.
The ongoing reforms created "an environment of uncertainty", he said.
"These reforms all affect the very core of what we do as councils.
"It is important the successful Government is transparent and inclusive of local government in its review and decisions around these changes.
"We support local decision making as opposed to centralised services that are at arms-length from communities."
As a growth district, the Waimakariri District Council looked forward to projects like the Woodend Bypass, a replacement of Skew Bridge in west Kaiapoi, and the proposed Rangiora eastern link road, Gordon said.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
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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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