Back
260 days ago

Council whitebait debt: ‘We’re not a benevolent society here’

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

Some of the West Coast's 650 whitebait stand holders owe the West Coast Regional Council for failing to pay their consent fees.

The matter came up as the council discussed its new policy to address non-rates aged receivable debt.

Council chairperson Peter Haddock said the combined whitebait debt more than three months old owed by standholders was unacceptable.

"We've got white-baiter debtors of $40,000-plus. I would have thought if you don't pay your licence, there is no licence.

"We're not a benevolent society here," Haddock said on March 5.

At the end of January, the council had $1.55 million in outstanding debt of more than 30 days old.

Of that, whitebait stand-holders collectively owed $44,076 of unpaid fees for 90 days or more.

This is despite whitebait stands on West Coast rivers being in hot demand and lucrative for holders in good years.

Individuals can in a good season earn tens of thousands of dollars from selling the delicacy.

Many stands have are held inter-generationally, with their right to keep it a recreational activity fiercely defended in recent years.

Council charges West Coast whitebait standholders an annual resource consent monitoring fee of $201.25.

The fees are usually invoiced in July each year.

Whitebait stand consent holders must also pay an annual administration charge of $115 for each individual whitebait stand consent file held.

Councillor Brett Cummings said whitebait and also gravel take debtors should have their privileges withheld.

"If they are not paying their gravel or whitebait fees, they should be removed."

Chief executive Darryl Lew said council was legally unable to withdraw a consent on the basis of non-payment.

However, acting consents and compliance manager Chris Barnes said it could for whitebait standholders.

Councillor Peter Ewen said the overall $1.55m debt currently owed to the council affected the financial bottom line.

He wanted to know the quantum of debt written off annually as an impact on the rates strike.

"All this reflects on our rates strike at the end of the year - our bottom line," he said.

Other overdue debtors, by more than three months at the end of January, included $91,846 for 'sundry debtors,' $133,856 for 'work order' debt, and overdue gravel compliance monitoring fees of $66,735.

Cummings said the debt backlog was unsettling.
"It's scary. You wouldn't run a business like this."

Councillor Frank Dooley said the council had to be highly active about debt collecting, although its new policy adopted in November had seen $100,887 recovered in one month.

Ewen said a significant problem for the council was payment for work funded by Government departments, which took time to flow through.

He said the 'aged debt' breakdown presented to the meeting should be itemised by sector so it was transparent who owed what.

"I would like to know what the Crown's outstanding debt is."

Lew said most of the Government agency payment debt was to do with the council's infrastructure programme via Kanoa.

Following negotiations recently it was now "proactively paying us ahead of time".

"We're not effectively bankrolling these things any more.

Image
More messages from your neighbours
2 hours ago

Calling All Puzzle Masters! Can You Solve This?

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

When John was six years old he hammered a nail into his favorite tree to mark his height.
Ten years later at age sixteen, John returned to see how much higher the nail was.
If the tree grew by five centimetres each year, how much higher would the nail be?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

Image
2 hours ago

Win this brand new home!

Heart Foundation Lottery

Experience the perfect blend of country charm and city convenience in Clarks Beach, Auckland!

For just $15 a ticket, you could win this brand-new, fully furnished Jennian home, valued at over $1 million.

This home offers three bedrooms, spacious kitchen and living areas, and a double garage.

Whether you decide to make it your dream home, a holiday retreat, a rental property or simply sell it, it’s still a life-changing prize.

Don’t wait—get your tickets today at heartlottery.org.nz.
Find out more

Image
15 days ago

What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.

Image