Author: Dr Tim Maltby
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Do We Need A Rates Cap?
The council has been very busy. They have approved the next phase of the library building. They are soon going to approve the next phase for the museum, and they are warming up to approve the aquatic center. All wonderful stuff, except for the poor starving ratepayers who are going to have to pay for…
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Treaty Principles Bill
I am probably going to get myself into trouble here, but after all of the news about the Principles Of The Treaty Of Waitangi bill I thought that I would have a look at it myself. Parliament is looking for submissions on the bill by Tuesday, January 7 2025 (Sunlive Treaty Principles Bill Submissions). The…
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Maori Wards
Maori carving beside state highway 29A overlooking Rangataua Bay. I have had a query about Maori wards. I am writing as you are running for Mayor of Tauranga. 1. Do you support the Coalition Government’s plan to have binding referenda about Maori wards? 2. Do you support or oppose Maori wards in Tauranga? I think…
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Don’t Close Otumoetai Pool
The entrance to Otumoetai Pool I have had a recent query about Otumoetai Pool. I read that you are in favour of building facilities in the suburbs. What is your stance on the proposed closing of Otumoetai Pool? I am totally opposed to closing the pool. The Otumoetai pool is exactly the type of facility…
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The Marine Precinct Has Been Sold
And just like that it’s gone. Council has sold the marine precinct to an unknown buyer for an unknown price (BOP Times). No warning, no discussion, no consultation. Just now you have it, and poof, suddenly just like that, it’s gone. And they can’t tell you the details because if they did they might look…
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Our Rates For 2034
The total average residential rates, including water and Regional Council rates by 2034 is estimated at approximately $12,000 per year, or higher. The average Tauranga City Council residential rates are approximately $3500. If we add average Regional Council rates (approx. $600), and average water rates (approx. $600), the total average residential rates for 2024 are…
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Too Many Consultants
More managers means more consultants. So where we have too many managers (seagulls), we also seem to have too many consultants (ducks), all looking for food (rates). In 2022-23 Tauranga City Council spent nearly $56million on consultants (LGOIMA request /2024/q4/150524). Airport 326,538 Animal Services 16,233 Arts & Culture 2,030,759 Asset Divestment and Leveraging 104,424 Asset…
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Too Many Managers
And not enough ratepayers. Tauranga City Council has too many managers (seagulls). For the 2022-23 year there were 1033.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees working for Tauranga City Council (2023 Annual Report). Over the same period there were 190.5 managers (LGOIMA request 2024/q4/90524). This means that there are 843 non managerial staff, with one manager per…