Pay doesn’t reflect workload – councillors
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Waimakariri councillors received a pay bump this week, but some elected members say the $55,983 salary doesn't reflect their workload.
The Waimakariri District Council voted to accept a 3.7% pay rise at a council meeting in Kaiapoi on Tuesday (July 2).
Councillors say they are grateful for the increase, but also wanted provision for KiwiSaver, ACC payments and incentives to encourage greater diversity around the council table.
The Remuneration Authority sets the pay rises for councillors and mayors across the country, with the latest increase taking effect this week.
Mayor Dan Gordon’s pay increased by $5433 to $152,271, while deputy mayor Neville Atkinson will receive $71,940.
Councillor Philip Redmond said anyone thinking councillors took on the job for the money were ‘‘deluded’’.
‘‘To get greater diversity we probably need to double the remuneration.
‘‘It does compensate us, but it doesn’t really consider that it is very close to a full-time job.’’
Councillor Joan Ward said the pay rise was "a welcome little increase, given our workload’’ and rising inflation.
‘‘If anyone thinks being a councillor is really a part-time job they are fooling themselves.’’
As councillors were considered contractors, there was no provision for KiwiSaver and ACC payments were ‘‘quite exorbitant’’, she said.
Councillor Tim Fulton said he appreciated the expense allowances, including mileage, which made the role sustainable.
‘‘These provisions should encourage people of all ages and stages in life, whether they are 23 or 73, to stand for council.
‘‘It is important we enable people to be able to take on these roles without impacting on family or their lives.’’
Community board members and chairs will also receive pay increases.
The Remuneration Authority sets the new rates using a system that ranks councils by size, according to population, total assets, total expenditure, socioeconomic deprivation indices and a complex weighting process.
For a mayor, the salary can range from about $59,000 to more than $300,000 in Auckland.
A councillor's salary can range from $14,274 in the Chatham Islands to more than $100,000 in Christchurch and Auckland.
There has been mixed reaction to the pay rises.
Whanganui mayor Andrew Tripe said it was the wrong time for his pay bump, but the decision to lift rates was made independently of councils.
In Rangitīkei, councillors who did not have chairing responsibilities were paid under $30,000 a year.
Mayor Andy Watson recently said told Local Democracy Reporting that councillors faced increasing levels of abuse, particularly on social media.
"People don't understand what is required of modern-day councillors, or the scale of the job and how much it has increased over time."
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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Proposed Canterbury landfill faces huge opposition
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
More than 500 submissions have been received in response to a proposed managed fill landfill in North Canterbury.
Christchurch-based Protranz International Ltd has applied to Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council for resource consents to establish and operate a quarry and landfill operation at White Rock.
Waimakariri District Council planning manager Wendy Harris said the applicant was up against ‘‘probably the most organised local group I’ve ever seen’’.
‘‘They organised a protest march, they’ve got signs all around and they’ve got a website and a Facebook page.’’
She said the 548 submissions was more than the 421 submissions to the draft Waimakariri District Plan, which was notified in 2021.
A proposed housing development at Ohoka, near Rangiora, in 2022 received 630 submissions.
While the details of the submissions have yet to be released, it is understood the majority are opposed.
Harris said planners from the two councils will plan joint hearings early next year.
More than 100 people marched from Southbrook in Rangiora to the Waimakariri District Council lawn in High St in September to express their opposition.
Organiser Mike McCaleb said residents are concerned about the potential environmental damage to the Karetu River, which feeds into the Okuku River, and then the Ashley/Rakahuri River.
He said he was surprised there were not more submissions but said he was aware of several people who had issues with Environment Canterbury’s website timing out.
‘‘It will be interesting to see the details of the submissions.’’
Protranz is seeking to restore the Whiterock Quarry, at 150 and 174 Quarry Rd, North Loburn, to near its previous landform, by filling it with managed fill, building and demolition waste and contaminated soil material, including asbestos.
The company bought Whiterock Quarry in 2022 with plans to fill it with soils and inert construction rubble removed from building and land development sites in Christchurch and North Canterbury, which are sent to Kate Valley Landfill.
‘‘Sending this stuff to Kate Valley adds a massive cost to developers, homeowners and community organisations who have dirt to move, and fills Kate Valley with material that can be better managed somewhere else,’’ Protranz founder Gerard Daldry said.
He said Protranz commissioned a wide range of testing including site investigations, technical assessments and design of the managed fill to support the resource consent applications.
The reports found environmental risks were ‘‘extremely low and able to be mitigated’’, Daldry said.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.3% Yes
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14.2% No
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
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