Category: Opinion

Opinion Pieces

The content of any Opinion pieces represent the views of the author and the accuracy of any content in a post labelled Opinion is the responsibility of the author. Posting of this Opinion content on the CityWatch NZ website does not necessarily constitute endorsement of those views by CityWatch NZ or its editors. CityWatch NZ functions to provide information and a range of different perspectives on New Zealand’s cities and local councils. If you disagree with or dispute the content, CityWatch NZ can pass that feedback on to the author. Send an email to feedback@citywatchnz.org and clearly identify the content and the issue.

Opinion

OPINION: The Orange Cone Infestation

Jun 21, 2024 | Auckland City, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, News, Official Information Act, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Transport and Roading

By Margaret Evans (former Mayor and Hamilton Ratepayer) I’ve suggested to Hamilton City...

Opinion

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...

Wellington Water CCO: November-December 2024 Media Coverage

Dec 21, 2024 | Contractors, Core Services, Council Funding, Council Spending, Greater Wellington Region, Hutt City, News, Opinion, Porirua City, Three Waters, Upper Hutt City, Water Meters, Wellington City
OPINION: Speed bumps for Wairere Drive

Dec 8, 2024 | Hamilton City, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, Opinion, Resource Management Act (RMA), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading
The Cost of Te Huia Train

Nov 27, 2024 | Auckland City, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Mode Shift, Opinion, Rail, Waikato Region
Hukanui Road In-Lane Bus Stop and Unintended Consequences

Nov 5, 2024 | Article, Climate Change and Weather, Council Spending, Disruptions, Hamilton City, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, Opinion, Pollution, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading

Additional Posts

Coverage of Oracle founder Larry Ellison’s comments on AI and mass surveillance

Nov 4, 2024 | Article, Crime, Electromagnetic Pollution (3G, 4G, 5G), Freedom of Expression, Global Agendas, Government Organisations, International Organisation, Internet of Things, Interview, News, Opinion, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Transport and Roading

Summary At the September 2024 Oracle financial meeting, the corporation’s founder Larry Ellison...

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: Building on Weak Foundations

Oct 25, 2024 | Auckland City, Hamilton City, High-density Housing, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Last week, Kainga Ora (Housing New Zealand) proudly...

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...

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...

OPINION: The Slippery Slope is a Strategy, not a Fallacy

Sep 3, 2024 | Article, Auckland City, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Incoming Legislation, Internet of Things, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Taking Action, Tauranga City, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

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

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...

Wellington City Council looks to reduce numbers of raised crossings in Thorndon Quay plan

Aug 31, 2024 | Article, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Emergency Services, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Petitions, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Voting Record, Wellington City

Opposition to Wellington City Council’s plan to install five raised pedestrian crossing along...

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 Fight Against Speed Bumps Rolls On

Aug 18, 2024 | Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Hostile Architecture, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Voting Record

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor Hamilton City Council’s Infrastructure committee...

New Zealand Initiative Report: Driving Change – How road pricing can improve our roads

Aug 3, 2024 | Article, Auckland City, Cities, Council Funding, Electromagnetic Pollution (3G, 4G, 5G), Hamilton City, Internet of Things, Law and Legislation, Mode Shift, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Protest, Road Pricing and Congestion Charges, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Surveillance, Tauranga City, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary The New Zealand Initiative self-identifies as a “Wellington-based think tank supported...

Opposition mobilises against the five raised crossings on Thorndon Quay, Wellington

Jul 29, 2024 | Article, Council Spending, Disruptions, Emergency Services, Greater Wellington Region, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Petitions, Public Transport, Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Further opposition mobilises against Wellington City Council’s plan to install five raised...

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...

Democracy Project Article: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country

Jul 25, 2024 | Asset Sales, Core Services, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Water Meters, Wellington City

[Originally published 29 April 2024 on the Democracy Project] By Dr Bryce Edwards (Political...

OPINION: The Illusion of Power: How Local Govt Bureaucrats Overawe Democratically-Elected Councillors

Jul 25, 2024 | Asset Sales, Cities, Code of Conduct complaints, Core Services, Council Meetings, Freedom of Expression, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Professional Managerial Class, Wellington City

[Originally published 13 June 2024 on the Democracy Project ] By Chris Trotter (Political...

Democracy Project Article: When unelected officials dominate the local democratic process

Jul 25, 2024 | Article, Asset Sales, Auckland City, Christchurch City, Cities and Regions, Code of Conduct complaints, Council Finances, Council Meetings, Council Spending, Freedom of Expression, Global Agendas, Law and Legislation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Overview, Professional Managerial Class, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Wellington City

Summary Bryce Edwards (Political Analyst and Director of the Democracy Project) provides a...

The Spinoff and The Post cover a planned $55 million project to install five raised crossings in Wellington

Jul 25, 2024 | Council Spending, Disruptions, Emergency Services, Greater Wellington Region, Hostile Architecture, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Wellington City

Summary Wellington City Council is planning to install five raised pedestrian crossing along...

OPINION: Plague of the Zombies

Jul 14, 2024 | Climate Change and Weather, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Natural Hazards, Opinion, Resource Management Act (RMA)

By Mark Flyger (Hamilton Ratepayer) Having just binged over the long weekend on the movies The...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Jos Nagels

Jul 11, 2024 | Core Services, Council Finances, Council Spending, Elections, High-density Housing, Opinion, Public Transport, Rail, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Transport and Roading

Jos Nagels’ Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga election...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Gerry Hodgson

Jul 5, 2024 | Climate Change and Weather, Core Services, Elections, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Safety and Well-being, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024

Gerry Hodgson’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

OPINION: Rage against the machine

Jul 3, 2024 | Code of Conduct complaints, Consultation, Freedom of Expression, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, News, Opinion, Protest, Waipa District

By Andrew Bydder A message I sent to Waipa council as a private citizen and resident of the...

Kāpiti Coastal Advisory Panel and managed retreat: June 2024 updates

Jun 30, 2024 | Article, Cities and Regions, Climate Change and Weather, Consultation, Council Meetings, Flood Risk, Global Agendas, Global Warming, Greater Wellington Region, International Organisation, Kapiti Coast District, Managed Retreat, Natural Hazards, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Protest, Resource Management Act (RMA), Taking Action, United Nations

June 2024 has been a busy month for the issues of climate change adaptation and managed retreat....

CANDIDATE OPINION: Anthony Goddard

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Spending, Elections, High-density Housing, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Public Transport, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Three Waters, Transport and Roading

Anthony Goddard’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Robert Coe

Jun 30, 2024 | Elections, Health and Safety, Law and Legislation, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Rates Increases, Safety and Well-being, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Three Waters, Water Fluoridation

Robert Coe’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Abraham (Bram) van Berkel

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Elections, 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: Jacqueline Pointon

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Finances, Elections, Health and Safety, High-density Housing, Opinion, Public Transport, Rates Increases, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024, Three Waters, Transport and Roading

Jacqueline Pointon’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

CANDIDATE OPINION: Rod Taylor

Jun 30, 2024 | Core Services, Council Funding, Council Spending, Disruptions, Elections, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Tauranga City, Tauranga City Council Election 2024

Rod Taylor’s Invited Opinion Piece [All contactable candidates for the 2024 Tauranga...

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...

OPINION: Te Huia or Te Toroa? The Costly Rail Service.

Jun 25, 2024 | Auckland City, Christchurch City, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Invercargill City, New Zealand Issues, News, Opinion, Public Transport, Transport and Roading, Waikato Region

By Geoff Lewis (Hamilton Journalist) I’ve always thought the Hamilton to Auckland commuter...

OPINION: Understanding Development Contributions

Jun 25, 2024 | Council Funding, Developer Contributions, Hamilton City, Law and Legislation, Opinion

By Andrew Bydder, Hamilton City Councillor To understand Hamilton’s DC policy, we will use a real...

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...

OPINION: Why You Should Fear Facial Recognition

May 27, 2024 | Cities and Regions, Crime, Emergency Services, Internet of Things, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Surveillance

By Guest (a concerned New Zealand resident) Introduction Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) is an...

Colin Jones on Hamilton City Council’s Long-Term Plan

May 15, 2024 | Article, Consultation, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, News, Official Information Act, Open Letters, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases, Taking Action

On 15 May 2024, Colin Jones presented to Hamilton City Council about the Long-Term Plan. Video of...

OPINION: Hamilton Mayor’s ANZAC visit to Belgium

Apr 25, 2024 | Article, Council Spending, Hamilton City, International, News, Opinion, Parks and Reserves, Rates Increases

By Geoff Kreegher (Hamilton Ratepayer) Menin Gate, Ieper, Belgium. Photo credit Johan Bakker...

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...

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...

NZ Herald and RNZ cover emergency vehicles being impacted by Auckland’s “traffic calming measures”

Mar 31, 2024 | Auckland City, Emergency Services, Health and Safety, Hostile Architecture, Interview, Mode Shift, News, Opinion, Safety and Well-being, Smart Cities (+ 20-minute Cities), Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, Vision Zero

Headline: Kiwi firefighters raise alarm on speed humps installed by Auckland Transport slowing...

OPINION: Rethinking water meters in Hamilton. A closer look at costs, equity and efficacy

Mar 27, 2024 | Cities, Core Services, Council Funding, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Opinion, Three Waters, Wellington City

By Leo Liu, 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate In the heart of discussions surrounding...

OPINION: Water meters back on the cards for Hamilton

Mar 27, 2024 | Core Services, Council Finances, Council Spending, Hamilton City, Opinion, Tauranga City, Three Waters, Wellington City

By Geoff Kreegher (Hamilton Ratepayer) Water meters appear to be back on the agenda for Hamilton...

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: Comparing the coalition’s draft transport General Policy Statement (GPS) with Labour’s version

Mar 23, 2024 | Cities and Regions, Climate Change and Weather, Consultation, Elections, Global Agendas, Incoming Legislation, International Organisation, Local Government Reform, New Zealand Issues, Opinion, Overview, Public Transport, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Taking Action, Traffic Calming, Transport and Roading, UN 2030 Agenda, United Nations, Vision Zero

By John McDonald, 2024 Hamilton East Ward By-election Candidate The Ministry of Transport has put...

Feb 3, 2024 | Core Services, Council Debt, Council Finances, Council Funding, Council Spending, Crime, Elections, Libraries and Museums, Local Government Reform, Opinion, Public Transport, Safety and Well-being, Three Waters, Transport and Roading, Wellington City, Wellington Pukehῑnau/Lambton Ward 2024 By-election

Joan Shi’s Invited Opinion Piece [All candidates for the 2024 By-elections were invited to...

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