Mayor's Message - 7 December 2021

Slashing next year’s rates by 2.27% looks to be on the cards for Kaipara District Council, following a Council Briefing last week where staff updated elected members on progress with the draft Annual Plan.

Complex problems for councils seldom come as neatly packaged as the “Better Off” funding which is part of the Three Waters Reforms.

Knocking off the big things as the season turns, daylight savings ends and the autumn equinox has passed, Kaipara District Council has just had confirmation the Mangawhai Central Private Plan Change has been resolved by all the concerned parties without the need for a costly Environment Court hearing.

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. 

Future-focused energies for the finish of February are helping set up Kaipara District Council for a busy time ahead.

Covid Omicron case numbers are increasing across New Zealand and in other parts of Northland but not in Kaipara District.

Two years ago last week the Government started its rollout of the first responses to the Covid-19 coronavirus. We’ve been living in a pandemic since then.

Standing at the gate of the year, as I look ahead I see a colourful year for Kaipara District Council.

As November turns into December the pace of things quickens around the Kaipara.

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.

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.

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.

Current Covid Rules around Kaipara District Council

At the time of writing, we have just entered our first Level 4 lockdown since March of last year.

Fast-paced times for Kaipara District Council will be the flavour of the period ahead.

Keeping connected with friends and family is important for each of us, it’s part of what keeps us healthy, resilient and having an enjoyable life. Connections for small Kaipara District Council are likewise important.

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

Roads are the most significant part of the business of Council, and something about which locals are justifiably passionate.

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. 

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.

Happy new year greetings to you as we roar on further into the Twenties. Already it’s lining up to be a cracker of a year for Kaipara District Council, and our summer season is well underway.

Summer is now upon us, and the days are warmer and longer.

Spring is fully here, the kowhai has bloomed, daffodils are done

“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.

Lockdown #2 is literally at the doorstep of Kaipara District right now

The darkest part of winter is here and yet there is so much light in Kaipara District

At hand we have a story of a halving, a doubling and a balancing. 

High and dry times continue across Kaipara District, as the worst-in-70-years drought rolls on.

Alert Level 4 has been extraordinary

Unprecedented events are unfolding around us.

Drought concerns are high on everyone’s minds.

Parched soils, hot temperatures and dry days make it clear summer’s here in Kaipara.