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Kia ora
At the time of writing, we have just entered our first Level 4 lockdown since March of last year. Government had signalled that it was adapting their plans due to the more-virulent Delta variation of the virus with the response needing to be swift and strong. Kaipara is in the, sometimes unenviable, position of sharing a boundary with Auckland, meaning tougher action in Auckland affects some of our communities too. I advocate strongly for the best outcomes for our communities and businesses, but sometimes there are higher powers that make the decisions. So, I ask you to be patient with those decisions. We will get through this. We have done it before. Council will do it’s best to assist in any way we can.
In the meantime, if you must go out please keep scanning, washing hands, wearing masks and keep up with getting those vaccinations! As of now they’re vaccinating people like me in our 40s – so I’m booked. It’s safe to say we all need to be prepared. Go well.
In other news:
In a busy season for Kaipara District Council, there’s much going on. Two key updates for you are explored below.
Dome Valley Landfill
Kaipara District Council continues to oppose unanimously the mega-landfill that Auckland Council has approved for Dome Valley. The next steps of the process include appeals against the resource consent. In recent weeks Kaipara District Council has become a party to the appeal led by Ngati Whatua and Te Uri O Hau. We remain committed to speaking up for the current and future people of Kaipara District and stand strongly in opposition to the 60 hectare / 150 acre landfill in the headwaters of the Kaipara Harbour.
Three Waters Reforms
In a nutshell here are proposed Three Waters Reforms changes we see coming for Kaipara District. Kaipara District Council currently owns and governs, on behalf of its ratepayers, small but significant Three Waters infrastructure. 25% of Kaipara people are on “town water” supplies, about 50% are connected to public wastewater. Under the Government’s proposal KDC would surrender those assets to a new water entity, and an estimated $52m of KDC debt would transfer with them. Council would be basically debt-free. There’s also a $16.7m grant “sweetener” for KDC to opt-in to the reforms, for place-making projects in Kaipara. After the proposed 1 July 2024 asset transfer, from then on KDC is not expected to have any say in what happens regarding Kaipara Three Waters assets, water services here, plans for them going forward, or water costs for ratepayers here. Instead, based on the population distribution in the Government’s models and proposal, in effect Auckland would lead Kaipara’s 3 Waters into the future.
From the known proposals so far, all your Councillors and I have many questions which remain unanswered. Key among them is how we can ensure a Kaipara voice in the new water entity. We have been told during September there will be more information as Government is looking to make decisions on this in the spring. We’ll keep you updated on this very important matter.
Ngā mihi
Mayor Jake
Dr Jason Smith, Mayor of Kaipara District
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Mayor's Message 11 April 2022
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Mayor's Message 28 March 2022
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Even lower expectations for KDC rates in the 2022-23 Annual Plan year, commencing 1 July, are now firmly on the cards as Council gets closer to its June finalisation of what will be in the Annual Plan.
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Mayor's Message 22 February 2022
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Future-focused energies for the finish of February are helping set up Kaipara District Council for a busy time ahead.
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Mayor's Message 15 February 2022
- February 15, 2022
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Mayor's Message 01 February 2022
- February 01, 2022
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Mayor's Message 18 January 2022
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Mayor's Message - 7 December 2021
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Mayor's Message 30 November 2021
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Mayor's Message - 2 November 2021
- November 02, 2021
In a flash the Three Waters Reforms have gone from looking reasonable to being radical reform, with Mayors across the country panning the announcement by Minister Mahuta that Government will, after all, be compelling all Councils across New Zealand to surrender their drinking water, wastewater and stormwater assets to be reorganised into mega-entities.
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Mayor's Message - 18 October 2021
- October 18, 2021
Congratulations to people in Kaipara District who’ve responded to the Kaipara Call To Arms and have rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated in the last two weeks.
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Mayor's Message - 04 October 2021
- October 04, 2021
Local Councils across New Zealand have been heavily focused in recent weeks on the Government’s Three Waters Reform program and what it may mean for us all.
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Letter from KDC to Hon Nanaia Mahuta
- September 30, 2021
Considerations from Kaipara District about the Three Waters Reforms.
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Mayor's Message - 20 September 2021
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Mayor's Message - July 2021
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Mayor's Message - June 2021
- June 21, 2021
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Mayor's Message - May 2021
- May 25, 2021
Records have been tumbling at Kaipara District Council and I expect a new level has just been set for the longest single-day Council Meeting
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Mayor's Message - April 2021
- April 26, 2021
Roads are the most significant part of the business of Council, and something about which locals are justifiably passionate.
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Lake Taharoa clean up discovers lost treasures and rubbish
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A friendly reminder to take only photos and leave only footprints at the Taharoa Domain when exploring the wonderful jewel of Kaipara.
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Mayor's Message - March 2021
- March 22, 2021
A surprise season of tsunami sirens is upon us. A real evacuation-level alert, a false alarm and then a scheduled test all within one month – that’s a bit to get your head around! On 5 March there was a legitimate tsunami evacuation for communities of Mangawhai and Ruawai.
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Mayor's Message - February 2021
- February 22, 2021
In the last month the COVID-19 pandemic has directly impacted Kaipara District twice – once with the 'Northland case' who visited tourism hotspots from Mangawhai to Matakohe and then with the 14/15 Feb checkpoint/boundary confusion which affected large numbers of Kaipara people and for a day effectively cut Kaipara District in half.
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Mayor's Message - January 2021
- January 21, 2021
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Long Term Plan 2021/2031 update
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See the results from surveys and events we've undertaken recently as part of our Long Term Plan.
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Mayor's Message - November 2020
- November 18, 2020
Summer is now upon us, and the days are warmer and longer.
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Mayor's Message - October 2020
- October 15, 2020
Spring is fully here, the kowhai has bloomed, daffodils are done
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Mayor's Message - September 2020
- September 17, 2020
“Kaipara’s getting hotter” is a perfect phrase for the season – winter is now over but, also, the attractiveness of Kaipara for new residents is reaching new levels of popularity.
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- September 09, 2020
Work is progressing at pace, as a result of $2.87m recently allocated to Kaipara District from the Te Tai Tokerau Redeployment Package. A total of $9.32 million is allocated across Northland. The funding package through the Provincial Growth Fund is providing urgent economic relief for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, by creating immediate work opportunities for local people and businesses.
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Mayor's Message - August 2020
- August 13, 2020
Lockdown #2 is literally at the doorstep of Kaipara District right now
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Mayor's Message - July 2020
- July 15, 2020
The darkest part of winter is here and yet there is so much light in Kaipara District
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Mayor's Message - June 2020
- June 19, 2020
At hand we have a story of a halving, a doubling and a balancing.
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Mayor's Message - May 2020
- May 22, 2020
High and dry times continue across Kaipara District, as the worst-in-70-years drought rolls on.
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Mayor's Message - April 2020
- April 24, 2020
Alert Level 4 has been extraordinary
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Mayor's Message - March 2020
- March 19, 2020
Unprecedented events are unfolding around us.
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Mayor's Message - February 2020
- February 21, 2020
Drought concerns are high on everyone’s minds.
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Mayor's Message - January 2020
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