29 June 2022
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Protest against Three Waters Reform
Enquiry
Initial heads up from reporter:
As you may be aware there's a Three Waters reform protest on today. It will conclude outside the museum sometime after 12pm.
I'm just getting in touch as I'm covering it and want to make you aware of it so you know to expect possible comments for right of reply coming through this afternoon. Just a bit of a heads up.
If anyone specifically mentions the council / the decisions of elected members I'll make sure I get them to you as soon as I can.
Subsequent from reporter:
Let me know if the council org would like to respond to any of these comments and or Dave on behalf of the council as deputy mayor.
If so, the deadline is 3.30pm.
Thanks very much
Felix
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COMMENTS
Taxpayer’s Union spokesman Jordan Williams told Local Democracy Reporting the purpose of the campaign was “doing what the Government isn’t” by listening to locals’ concerns.
He said the reform would mean a “loss of local control” and increased bureaucracy, as well as higher water costs, flowing on to higher rates.
Williams said ratepayers would get a better service from calling the council “down the road” than a new regional entity.
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Rotorua Residents and Ratepayers chairman Reynold Macpherson told the assembled protesters the reform was “so contrary to public interest” and was harmful to democracy.
He described the reform as a “confiscation” of assets and said the modelling the Government relied on as a justification for the reform was “unreliable”.
He said if he was elected mayor he would join other councils opposed to the reform and seek alternative solutions.
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Councillor candidate Robert Lee said the reform and its co-governance element could mean “mana whenua decide everything”.
“It troubles me greatly.”
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Another councillor candidate, Brendan Davis, said the district council had become “another arm of the overreaching government” and it should retain ownership of local assets.
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Federated Farmers Rotorua - Taupō president Colin Guyton said there was a “lack of democracy and consultation” with the reforms.
“It almost doesn’t feel like we’re in New Zealand.”
He said he believe many people in Rotorua didn’t understand the “consequences” of Three Waters reform.
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Reporoa Residents and Ratepayers Association committee secretary Karen Barker, who was also the Groundswell Rotorua coordinator and a councillor candidate for the rural ward, told the crowd she believed the reform would result in a “multi-layered bureaucracy” with those in power appointed, not elected.
“Rotorua will be one drop in a big bucket [as part of Entity B].”
She called on those gathered to put more pressure on the council to oppose the reforms.
Response
From RLC organisation:
Nothing from the organisation regarding the views expressed here but thanks for checking.
From Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson:
I have read the reported comments from those gathered today. I have no comment to make in response. Rotorua Lakes Council will be reviewing it’s position on the Three Waters Reforms tomorrow and I will reserve any comments for that discussion.