Category: Council Debt

OPEN LETTER: John McDonald’s A Request for Ministerial Intervention Regarding the IAWAI Water Company

Jun 27, 2026 | Amalgamation, Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Government Organisations, Hamilton City, Information Sheets, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Open Letters, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Waikato District, Waikato Region, Water Meters

OPINION: Have IAWAI and NZ Water CCOs Been Given a Back Door Around Rates Caps?

Jun 25, 2026 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Infrastructure, Law and Legislation, LGFA, Local Government Reform, Open Letters, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters

OPINION: Bad Faith, a Missing Graph, and the Creation of the IAWAI Water Company

May 7, 2026 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Open Letters, Opinion, Taking Action, Water Meters

OPINION: Is the Government Letting the Foxes Guard the Henhouse with Infrastructure Spending?

May 5, 2026 | Asset Sales, Cities and Regions, Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Global Warming, Government Organisations, High-density Housing, Hostile Architecture, Incoming Legislation, Infrastructure, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, Managed Retreat, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Professional Managerial Class, Property Rights, Rates Increases, Regulations, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Three Waters, Toll Roads, Transport and Roading, Water Meters

Household Water Costs in Hamilton City Projected to Triple within 9-years under New Water Company

Sep 1, 2025 | Article, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Infrastructure, LGFA, Local Government Reform, News, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Waikato Region

The History of Claudelands Events Centre – A Questionable Commercial Venture

Aug 4, 2025 | Article, Arts and Cultural, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Overview, Rates Increases, Sports and Events, Waikato Region

Low rates increases achieved at Whanganui District Council – RNZ reports

Aug 1, 2025 | Article, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases

OPINION: LGNZ is Confusing Myth and Truth (Part 1)

Jul 31, 2025 | Arts and Cultural, Auckland City, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Hostile Architecture, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGFA, LGNZ, New Zealand Issues, Official Information Act, Opinion, Parliament, Protest, Rates Increases, Rubbish, Sports and Events, Three Waters, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Water Meters, Wellington City, Whanganui District

Council Debt

A misleading headline and Hamilton City Council’s sensitivity to the word “fudging”

May 11, 2024 | Article, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, News, Rates Increases

With Hamilton City Council’s reported financial situation rapidly getting worse, the 7th of May...

Council Debt

OPINION: Peacocke — The Billion‑Dollar Suburb Hamilton Built Before the Houses Arrived

Aug 1, 2026 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Developer Contributions, Hamilton City, High-density Housing, Housing supply, Infrastructure, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Shaw's Bird Park, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Transport and Roading

By Graeme Mead (Hamilton West Ward Councillor) Hamilton built a bridge to a new suburb. The suburb...

Additional Posts

OPINION: Feedback on the IAWAI Water Services Strategy (April 2026)

Apr 4, 2026 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Open Letters, Opinion, Taking Action, Water Meters

[This is based on John McDonald’s main feedback prepared for the IAWAI Water Services...

OPINION: The Cost of Water is Being Set. The Limits are Not

Apr 3, 2026 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Infrastructure, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Waikato Region

By Mesh Macdonald (Hamilton City Councillor) IAWAI’s draft strategy outlines how water services...

Consultation closes 06 April 2026: Hamilton City Council’s & Waikato District Council’s (IAWAI) Water Services Strategy

Mar 27, 2026 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, LGFA, Local Government Reform, News, Rates Increases, Taking Action, Three Waters, Waikato District, Water Meters

Hamilton City Council is consulting on the Water Services Strategy from their new water company...

October 2025 Coverage of S&P’s “New Zealand Water Reforms Don’t Guarantee Rating Relief For Local Councils” Report

Oct 31, 2025 | Article, Auckland City, Christchurch City, Cities and Regions, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Developer Contributions, Dunedin City, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Infrastructure, Invercargill City, Law and Legislation, LGFA, Local Government Reform, Nelson City, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Palmerston North City, Porirua City, Three Waters, Upper Hutt City, Water Meters, Wellington City

Summary In late October 2025, S&P Global published a Scenario Analysis titled New Zealand...

CANDIDATE OPINION: John McDonald

Oct 2, 2025 | Asset Sales, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Global Agendas, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Infrastructure, LGFA, LGNZ, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Three Waters, Traffic Calming, WEF

John McDonald’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton City...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Rudi du Plooy

Oct 2, 2025 | Climate Change and Weather, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Global Warming, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Homelessness, Housing supply, Infrastructure, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Water Meters

Rudi du Plooy’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton City...

OPINION: A Surge of New Voters can Reset Hamilton’s West — Here’s How

Oct 2, 2025 | Bank, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Housing supply, Infrastructure, Libraries and Museums, Opinion, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Three Waters, Transport and Roading

By Roderick John Young ( Hamilton West Ward candidate 2025) With less than a fortnight until polls...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Stuart Aitken

Sep 30, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Infrastructure, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Stuart Aitken’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton City...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Graeme Mead

Sep 30, 2025 | Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Housing supply, Infrastructure, Libraries and Museums, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Transport and Roading

Graeme Mead’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton City...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Rachel Afeaki

Sep 30, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Infrastructure, Libraries and Museums, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases

Rachel Afeaki’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton City...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Horiana Henderson

Sep 19, 2025 | Bank, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, LGFA, LGNZ, Opinion, Rates Increases, Voting Record

Horiana Henderson’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Roderick John Young

Aug 31, 2025 | Bank, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Housing supply, Infrastructure, Opinion, Rates Increases

Roderick John Young’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Mesh Macdonald

Aug 31, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Infrastructure, Opinion, Rates Increases

Mesh Macdonald’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Roger Stratford

Aug 30, 2025 | Climate Change and Weather, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Elections, Freedom of Expression, Global Warming, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, LGFA, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Roger Stratford’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2025 Hamilton...

OPINION: When Will Someone Say STOP?

Aug 18, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Libraries and Museums, Mode Shift, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Regulations, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Sports and Events, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

By Graeme Mead (Hamilton West Ward Candidate) It’s election year in Hamilton, and the question...

Council Performance Information Released by Internal Affairs

Aug 1, 2025 | Article, Cities, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, LGFA, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Regions, Resources

Summary Internal Affairs has released its first set of council performance information which can...

Meet the Candidates: 06 August 2025 – Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association Incorporated

Aug 1, 2025 | Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, News, Transport and Roading

From the Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS Hamilton East...

OPINION: Water is Life – But Can You Afford It?

Aug 1, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Developer Contributions, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Opinion, Rates Increases, Regulations, Three Waters

By Michael West (Engineer and Hamilton West Ward Candidate) Reproduced with permission from Better...

OPINION: A City on the Move — But Not in the Right Direction

Jul 7, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton 2025, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Kirikiriroa Maaori Ward By-election 2024, Opinion, Rates Increases, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

By Horiana Henderson (Hamilton East Ward Candidate) In the hushed hall of Fairfield Baptist Church...

OPINION: Investing in Infrastructure to Support Hamilton’s Growth

Jun 30, 2025 | Building Consent, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Developer Contributions, Hamilton City, Housing supply, Opinion, Rates Increases, Regulations, Three Waters

By Mike West (Engineer and Hamilton East Ward Candidate) When I stood for Council in 2016, I was...

Investigating New Zealand’s Local Government Act 2002 – A Layperson’s Guide

Jun 30, 2025 | Article, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Guides, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Overview, Resources

CityWatch NZ contributor and adult educator Don Hewison (ScEdD, ChEdD) is making available his...

OPINION: Hamilton’s proposed “Ratepayer Assistance” Scheme Risks Becoming a Debt Trap

Jun 30, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, LGFA, Opinion, Rates Increases

By Mark Flyger (Financial Accountant and CFO Modern Transport Group) Originally published on...

Hamilton City Council votes to fund work towards creating new multi-council finance company

Jun 29, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, LGFA, LGNZ, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Regulations, Voting Record

Summary The Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA), Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), Cameron...

Hamilton City Council votes to reject increasing its debt-to-revenue limit to 350%

Jun 29, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Hamilton City, LGFA, News, Regulations, Voting Record

Summary Most councils in New Zealand borrow from the Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA) and...

KPMG International Publication – “The Great Reset: Emerging trends in infrastructure and transport”

May 31, 2025 | Article, Asset Sales, Cities, Climate Change and Weather, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Developer Contributions, Global Agendas, Global Warming, International, Internet of Things, News, Opinion, Regulations, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Three Waters, Toll Roads, Transport and Roading, WEF

Summary The 2025 edition of KPMG’s “Emerging trends in infrastructure and transport” document is...

OPINION: Council Growth Financial Model 2019-2025

May 31, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Developer Contributions, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, LGFA, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Rates Increases

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Numbers have been rounded for simplification....

Meeting Notice: 03 May 2025 – Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association Incorporated

Apr 29, 2025 | Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, News, Transport and Roading

From the Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association You are invited to our monthly meeting as...

OPINION: Six Major Reasons to Oppose Road Pricing

Apr 22, 2025 | Article, Auckland City, Christchurch City, Consultation, Council Debt, Council Funding, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Internet of Things, Law and Legislation, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Petitions, Protest, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Toll Roads, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

The authorities are planning to take you on “a journey” into a society with more surveillance and...

Consultations April 2025: “Local Water Done Well” Water Service Reforms

Mar 31, 2025 | Christchurch City, Cities, Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Dunedin City, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Hutt City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Porirua City, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Three Waters, Upper Hutt City, Water Meters, Wellington City

There are “Local Water Done Well” consultations running at councils around the country with many...

OPINION: Serious Mismanagement and Lack of Accountability with Water Services

Mar 31, 2025 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Kaipara District, Law and Legislation, LGFA, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Parliament, Protest, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Water Meters, Wellington City

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor and 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate) With...

OPINION: Gold-plated White Elephants

Mar 30, 2025 | Auckland City, Contractors, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, LGFA, Local Government Reform, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Imagine a gold-plated Rolls Royce for $1m. NZTA offers...

Meeting Notice: 27 March 2025 – Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association Incorporated

Mar 26, 2025 | Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Local Government Reform, News

From the Hamilton Residents & Ratepayers Association You are in invited to the second of our...

OPINION: The 2025/26 HCC Budget – More of the Same and No “Fresh Thinking” (Yet) for Election Year

Feb 27, 2025 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, Opinion, Rates Increases, Rubbish

By Rob Pascoe (Chartered Accountant, Former Hamilton City Councillor, and Hamilton Ratepayer) At...

OPINION: Breaking the Spending Addiction

Feb 26, 2025 | Auckland City, Christchurch City, Cities, Cities and Regions, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, LGFA, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Wellington City

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Councils love spending other people’s money. But if it...

Local Government Act Reforms: December 2024 Media Coverage

Dec 21, 2024 | Cities, Cities and Regions, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Regions, Three Waters, Transport and Roading

Summary On the 16th of December 2024, Minister for Local Government Simeon Brown announced a...

Crown Observer to Monitor Wellington City Council

Nov 4, 2024 | Article, Asset Sales, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Greater Wellington Region, Hamilton City, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Three Waters, Wellington City

Summary On the 22 October 2024 Local Government Minister Simeon Brown announced that he was...

OPEN LETTER: Getting Local Government ‘Back on Track’

Oct 25, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Crime, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Open Letters, Opinion, Property Rights, Rates Increases

By Don Hewison (ScEdD, ChEdD) and sent to government ministers in October 2024 I recently read Hon...

OPINION: Shaw’s Bird Park: Broken Promises and Debt-fuelled Destruction

Oct 3, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Crime, Developer Contributions, Hamilton City, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Property Rights, Protest, Shaw's Bird Park

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor and 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate) Back in...

Shaw’s Bird Park: Diggers, Barricades, and Trespass Notices

Oct 3, 2024 | Article, Contractors, Council Debt, Council Spending, Crime, Freedom of Expression, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, News, Parks and Reserves, Property Rights, Protest, Shaw's Bird Park

Contractor’s machinery occupying parts of the Bird Park, Photographed in September 2024...

OPINION: Why Vote Against “Safety” and “Free Money”?

Oct 1, 2024 | Auckland City, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Mode Shift, News, Open Letters, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero, Wellington City

By John McDonald (CityWatch NZ Editor and 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate) The issue...

OPINION: Hamilton City Council Borrowing to Increase

Sep 16, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGFA, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters

The government is allowing debt to rise to 500% of waters revenue for new “Local Water Done Well” Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs). There are also plans to increase the borrowing limit for high growth councils to 350% of council revenue.

OPINION: Hamilton City Council’s Credit Downgrade Not a Surprise

Sep 15, 2024 | Article, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, News, Opinion, Three Waters

By Rob Pascoe (Chartered Accountant, Former Hamilton City Councillor, and Hamilton Ratepayer) Some...

Articles covering PM Luxon’s speech to LGNZ (August 2024)

Sep 2, 2024 | Article, Cities, Code of Conduct complaints, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Freedom of Expression, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Overview, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases, Regions, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Prime Minister Christopher Luxon gave a speech at the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ)...

OPINION “Local Water Done Well” and the Hamilton Ratepayer

Aug 31, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Water Meters

By Geoff Kreegher (Hamilton Ratepayer) “Local Water Done Well” is the Coalition Government’s plan...

OPINION: Luxon Nails Councils

Aug 27, 2024 | Auckland City, Contractors, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, LGNZ, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Prime Minister Chris Luxon fronted the Local Government...

OPINION: The Numbers Game

Jul 25, 2024 | Cities, Contractors, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Global Agendas, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero, WEF

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Council Maths is… different. Figures for Hamilton City...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Abraham (Bram) van Berkel

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, High-density Housing, Managed Retreat, Natural Hazards, Opinion, Rates Increases, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Transport and Roading

Abraham (Bram) van Berkel’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Tim Maltby

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Funding, Council Spending, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Rates Increases, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Transport and Roading

Tim Maltby’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 3 Highlights

Jun 10, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Rates Increases, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Selected speakers from the 3rd day of the public hearings for the Hamilton City Council Long-Term...

Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 2 Highlights

Jun 7, 2024 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Rates Increases, Taking Action, Transport and Roading

Selected speakers from the 2nd day of the public hearings for the Hamilton City Council Long-Term...

What Has Been Happening with Number Plate Recognition Cameras in Manchester, UK?

Jun 1, 2024 | Article, Cities and Regions, Climate Change and Weather, Council Debt, Council Spending, Crime, Global Agendas, International, Mode Shift, News, Overview, Petitions, Protest, Public Transport, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Surveillance, Taking Action, Transport and Roading

Summary and Key Points In 2008 the Greater Manchester local authorities proposed a congestion...

Protest outside Hamilton City Council on the 27th of June

May 31, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Protest, Taking Action

A protest is being planned before Hamilton City Council’s Long-Term Plan is finalised in...

Hamilton City Council Long-Term Plan Hearings: Day 1 Highlights

May 30, 2024 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, News, Rates Increases, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Three Waters, Traffic Calming, UN 2030 Agenda

Selected speakers from the 1st day of the public hearings for the Hamilton City Council Long-Term...

Protest outside Hamilton City Council on the 17th of May

May 11, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Petitions, Protest, Rates Increases, Taking Action

A protest is being planned for the last day of the “verbal submissions“ phase of Hamilton City...

OPINION: Margaret Evans’ submission on the Hamilton City Long-Term Plan

Apr 21, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Local Government Reform, News, Open Letters, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Taking Action

By Margaret Evans (former Mayor and Hamilton Ratepayer) To the Mayor and Councillors:...

OPINION: What to keep and what to cut in Hamilton’s Long-Term Plan?

Apr 20, 2024 | Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Crime, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Mode Shift, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Three Waters, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

By John McDonald, 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate One of the main narratives being...

OPINION: Analysis of Hamilton City Council’s financial position

Apr 19, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Official Information Act, Opinion, Rates Increases, Taking Action

By Geoff Kreegher (Hamilton Ratepayer) In preparation of the 2024-34 Long Term Plan the Mayor...

Long-Term Plan consultation guide

Apr 15, 2024 | Article, Cities, Consultation, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Spending, Guides, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Overview, Resources, Taking Action, Wellington City

In New Zealand, city councils usually produce a Long-Term Plan every three years. The council’s...

OPINION: Why is Hamilton City Council unable to prepare and promise a financial budget that works?

Apr 13, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Opinion, Rates Increases, Taking Action

By Prudintis (a Hamilton City Ratepayer) Last year’s reported “balancing the books” deficit of...

Petition to stop rates increases and growing debt at Hamilton City Council

Apr 10, 2024 | Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Petitions, Protest, Rates Increases, Taking Action

This petition is running on change.org and is titled “STOP HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL RATE...

Consultation for the Hamilton City Council Long-term Plan 2024-2034

Mar 29, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Local Government Reform, News, Rates Increases, Resources, Taking Action

[UPDATE (03 August 2024): Hamilton City Council’s Long-Term Plan was approved by Council vote on...

OPINION: Hamilton and water meters. How Hamilton City Council wants to continue to kick the can down the road.

Mar 27, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Opinion, Rates Increases, Three Waters

By Richard Brister, 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate Straight after the Hamilton...

OPINION: Hamilton City Council’s First Rating Downgrade in a Decade

Mar 7, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Opinion, Rates Increases

By Prudintis (a Hamilton City Ratepayer) Councils in NZ use International Rating Agencies to...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Tim Macindoe

Feb 3, 2024 | Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, Hamilton City, Hamilton East Ward 2024 By-election, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Rates Increases, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Tim Macindoe’s Invited Opinion Piece [All candidates for the 2024 By-elections were invited...

Newsroom article: Three Waters repeal forces councils to hike rates by a third

Dec 25, 2023 | Buller District, Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Spending, Far North District, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Incoming Legislation, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Three Waters, United Nations, World Health Organisation

Headline: Three Waters repeal forces councils to hike rates by a third Authored by: Jonathan Milne...

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