Forget What’s Going On In Whitianga – Its Election Year

By John Freer

Don’t yawn and stop reading – fat chance when you realise this story is about the coming local government elections. We can only encourage you to keep reading and keep an eye on things that are happening.

Saturday saw the first three people who have indicated they want to be Thames Coromandel District Mayor get their chance to have their say for five minutes.

Actually, they all got more than six minutes when addressing the annual general meeting of the Whitianga Residents and Ratepayers Meeting. Current Mayor Len Salt, Councillor Peter Revell, and newcomer Patrick Kerr all gave their spiel – more on this later.

The more intriguing aspect was the WRR annual meeting, which was chaired by Acting Chairman Flemming Rasmussen, who is a Whitianga ratepayer but lives in Kuaotunu. Flemming is standing for council, which was obvious in his handling of the annual meeting.

Pretty much Flemming’s first question was whether people had come to the meeting because it was the AGM or were they there to listen “to the very special event,” referring to the mayoral candidates.

Normally, at residents and ratepayers’ annual meetings, those present can ask questions and table any points of interest relating to their community – it comes under the heading of general business. Pre-meeting publicity highlighted aspects about having your say and the association’s aim of keeping people informed on issues that affect Whitianga.

The published list included rates increases, local roading, coastlines, beach and wharf, waste management, arts and crafts, safer communities, rescue helicopters – of particular interest to me as a Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust Trustee, crime prevention, and health care.

There was no opportunity given to those attending to discuss any of the previously mentioned items or anything new. The matter of general business was never mentioned.

Some procedural matters were dealt with such as getting the previous year’s minutes approved and the accounts approved – this showed income of $900 for the year and expenditure of $300 – the election of officers was dealt with, former Councillor Tony Fox being appointed chairman due to no other candidates, and it was a charge straight into the mayoral candidates.

Following the explanation of the speaking order, Kerr made the point that he was the only eastern seaboard person at this stage standing for the position, obviously forgetting the mayor represented the entire district.

He asked what the eastern residents had received for paying 75 percent of the district’s rates – some understanding of this may come the next time he flushes his toilet or drives down the local streets to the Whangamata shops.

He made the key point saying residents paid exorbitant rates; the increases he described at the time of a financial crisis as being arrogant, unreasonable, and unsustainable.

Cr Revell spoke at number two – his presentation was more about him and how much he loved the Coromandel Peninsula and the engagement of Mercury Bay people. Having been a councillor for the past two and a half years and a Thames Community Board member before that, he was looking for a new beginning and a fresh start.

Mayor Len Salt reminded people how he had got together to make the WRR Association a happening thing during the area’s water crisis in 2019/2020. He talked about one of his pet subjects, the new refuse transfer station, which he said would be a real benefit into the future – having an original budget of $3 million but in fact costing more than three times that amount – but the government came to the party to ease the ratepayer’s burden.

At the last election, the mayor joined the call for closer working relationships with residents and ratepayers’ groups and community boards – which has been lacking. He is again making the same call.

It’s alright; there are only six months to go before you can vote. During that time, CFM is going to provide a range of options for residents and ratepayers to ask questions and have their say and fact check information from candidates. Watch this space as we help to keep you engaged and appropriately informed.