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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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- December 21, 2021
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Mayor's Message - 18 October 2021
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Mayor's Message - 04 October 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
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Mayor's Message - April 2021
- April 26, 2021
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- April 15, 2021
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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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- October 15, 2020
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Mayor's Message - September 2020
- September 17, 2020
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- September 09, 2020
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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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- 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
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Unprecedented events are unfolding around us.
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Mayor's Message - February 2020
- February 21, 2020
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Mayor's Message - January 2020
- January 24, 2020
Parched soils, hot temperatures and dry days make it clear summer’s here in Kaipara.
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