Rates reform too hard for Liarbour

A lot of this flogged from Hugh Stringleman's article P5 The NZ Farmer's Weekly Oct 13th 2008 (not online).

I think it was Rodders who was threatening all sorts if the rates inquiry didn't happen. Well it did happen, just nothing has happened since.

As expected back in July, Liarbour has totally ignored the extremely expensive rates reform inquiry findings. A lot of hope was raised when the inquiry was held, now it has been kicked into touch.

Local Govt Minister Nanaia Mahuta is unlikely to do anything this side of the election. I didn't expect any other result, the bureaucracy rolls on. Like the soon to be created Ministry of Short Showers, councils infiltrate our lives daily.

There were 96 recommendations, but the inquiry and officials teams have long disbanded. Further progress is awaiting a cabinet decision. I guess the recommendations will still be there for the next inquiry.

Remember the $10K club? Where Fed Farmers said there was more than a few cockies paying hideous rates to have the grader come down the road once year if they were lucky. They actually uncovered a sheep shagger that was paying $89K pa on his station, 20x to 30x the going rate in town near Gisborne. Apparently more than net farm income.

Just like Liarbour, if it doesn't move or complain, tax the hell out of it.

The inquiry process was a serious piece of work which hadn't been done for 20 years and it is a shame to see its findings languish.

Also,

The Minister would have no hope of saying what proportion of total local government rates nationally is paid by agriculture.

I await the next inquiry to placate the politicians. Meanwhile we keep paying.

Piracy on the high seas

Ferry users from down on Waiheke island are angry that a transport operator seeks to recover costs in true user pays fashion to maintain a profitable business. A captive audience these yuppies from the island backwater that need to commute to service their large mortgages and lifestyles.

Commuters are now looking for other Jafaland ratepayers to stump up for their chosen isolationist lifestyle. They want a subsidy from the ARC - Orklund Robbery Co. To hell with that, I believe the only choice would be that all public transport, including that on the mainland, was fully funded by the user, not the ratepayer cash cow.

If you can't afford the cost of transport, do not live on an island. Commuters may liken the charges to piracy, but I say the true cost of your carbon footprint is rightly being sheeted home.

Harden up, user pays is the only way to go.

Jafaland cat threw up

The new logo for Jafaland has cost their ratepayers $175K.

Yes, it does absolutely positively look like something the cat disgorged.

Ratepayers funding wrecks

Judith has finally found out where Jafaland is and concocted this harebrained idea pay the owners of barely mobile vehicles $400 to get onto public transport.

Seems these wrecks might be a major cause of air pollution which can be fixed by paying out heaps of ratepayers money - these usual fix for a cash strapped government. Never any thought of fining hell out of the owners for using these air pollution devices without a warrant or other legal niceties to swell the ratepayer coffers.

Now, should such a scheme get off the ground, those with half a brain cell will be queuing up at the local car yard for a mobile wreck and going straight to Jude's place for a cash refund. I can see vehicles coming from far and wide, especially from south of the Bombays. Get caught on the way by the fuzz? - Just plead I am saving the planet and am on my way to get on Jude's bus!