Pay hike for next Ashburton Council
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
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The newly elected Ashburton District Councillors later this year will walk into a pay rise.
The Remuneration Authority, which dictates the elected councillors' salaries, is proposing to increase the remuneration pool from $383,524 to $450,195, to be distributed to Ashburton District councillors following the elections in October.
The pool doesn’t apply to the mayor and the Methven Community Board members.
Currently the deputy mayor salary is $58,365 and the other eight councillors receive $40,645. The pool increase would increase an Ashburton District councillor salary to about $47,000.
Some councillors spoke of being uneasy about a pay increase, which is outside their control, during what are tough economic times.
“I just find a 15.76 per cent increase a little bit unjustifiable in my own mind,” councillor John Falloon said.
“Basically, we only have inflation up to December at 5.19 but admittedly this does go back for three years so there may be some justification there, but to me I feel a little bit uneasy about a 15.76 per cent increase.”
Councillor Carolyn Cameron said she felt uncomfortable with the level of the increase.
With wages not keeping up with inflation, there seemed to be a disconnect “that elected members such as ourselves can benefit to a greater extent than the people that voted for us”, she said.
However, mayor Neil Brown said the increase would hopefully entice new, potentially younger, candidates to come forward for the next election.
“There’s been talk over the years that if the role paid more, then more younger people with full time jobs could go to part time jobs and spend a lot more time doing council and not miss out on any salary. This goes that distance I believe so we may get more young people around the table, we might not. Time will tell.”
The councillors have their opinions but ultimately the Remuneration Authority determines the salaries.
“You can’t determine what you get and what you don’t get but once its delivered to you, you can decide what you do with it.
“If you don’t want it you can give it away,” Brown said.
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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).
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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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