Having a lend # 876234

In the latest council missive local rag was delivered yesterday into my rural mailbox, a piece of newsprint funded via council advertorials usually copied straight off $tuffed and The Ferald.  

As always expected, the Far North District Council will not be reducing my rates any time soon.  

The feather bedding at the trough of culture continues apace with yet more diversity hires.

FNDC topping the bill with 48 new people to now have 391 staff

A 15% increase in staff along with the rates take increasing another 5% or more, this year cracking $100M.  And the recently elected Mayor is handsomesomely rewarded with an increase to $163K pa.

For what you may well ask?  Local roads are dire, slipping into the sea, creeks and waterways as the potholes breed exponentially and slips increase in size.  Zero low-cost maintenance on culverts and drains in recent times now bites hard.  All whilst ratepayers await the next minor rain event to see which local roads might slip out from under and are forever closed.

And speed lowering signs recently erected in 12-18" of clay in a waterlogged roadside drain fall over at the next minor wind event two days later.  Purportedly to slow traffic rather than repair the roads any time soon.

Maybe this?

NRC chairwoman Tui Shortland said her council’s 10.48 per cent rates increase averaged $45.95 annually, or less than a dollar a week. The rates increase would go towards areas including building Te Tiriti capability, two new Māori relationships staff, increased non-elected member payment to attract and retain hapū and iwi expertise

Or this in other recent news via another agency well versed in the arts of wasting taxpayers funds?

Kawakawa will be flushed with pride as the Northland town’s iconic Hundertwasser toilets have officially been recognised as a historical site.

The quirky loos are the only existing, standalone public toilets to be listed as a Category 1 historic place by Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga.

All whilst State Highway 1 has been closed more than being open in the past 5 years.

But rest assured, the feelz of the new diversity hires will overshadow the need to repair the rural road lifelines to towns, shops and health providers anytime soon.  

You will pay!