Waitaki District Council - an Observer's view

10/06/2026

The cold hard facts!
At the Council Meeting of 26 May Officers pointed out that a decision on the Rates setting must be made on that day. This is to allow a viable timeline to prepare Reports and get the official ratification over the line by 30June thus allowing Rates for the new year starting 1 July 2026 to be in place.
Failure to meet that deadline would place the Council in a serious untenable position.
Tonight's Public meeting at the Brydone will attempt to dissuade at least 2 Councillors from the Voting stance they took. The intention is to retrospectively change the result after the paperwork train has begun.
Good luck with that.

07/06/2026

Recent events seem to have awoken the 'political beast' within a lot of our district's residents.
For those who like this sort of thing, bless your cotton socks, and here's some pointers to the many & varied sources that I could find.

These are all pages/profiles unless otherwise stated, with their known Administrator/owner

1. EMPTY Buckets Waitaki > Kirsty Cashmore & friends
2. Honest Waitaki > Melissa Mac (?)
3. Local Voice > Ray Henderson - a Monthly column in the Oamaru Mail
4. ORRg.net - a Webpage for
the Oamaru Ratepayers & Residents group > Chair: Ray Henderson
EDIT: and now a page: Oamaru Ratepayers Residents Group >
* note - The Waitaki Ratepayers & Residents Assn page is not a valid/active source
5. Shame on you Waitaki District Council > ?source unknown
6. the Waitaki Project > ?source unknown
7. Waitaki Civic Voice > ?source unknown
8. Waitaki District Council – An Observer’s View > Ray Henderson (yes, it’s me again)
9. Waitaki Ratepayers & Citizens Community > possibly inactive
* note – not connected to ORRg or the former Waitaki R&R Assn

and some others which occasionally stroll into the Political arena
Oamaru Community Noticeboard > various
Oamaru TODAY > Allan Dick
Waitaki Voice > Stephen Carter

Please let me know of any more, and/or corrections. ty

05/06/2026

Here is part of the Annual Plan submission of Ray Henderson.
Didn't get as much traction as Keith Marshall's piece.
Maybe I should have sent it to Oamaru TODAY instead of the Waitaki District Council
"
The Question put: Option 1) 19%; Option 2) 27%; Option 3) 45% ?
Option3) 45% - Hell no!
This includes 18% or $9m to address unfunded Waters depreciation.
Completely unnecessary.
Waters is a separate entity, or will be from 1July2027.
Any money gathered into the Depreciation ‘pot’ will be part of the Assets reassignment to the Southern Waters Entity (CCO) and will only affect the net Debt that is being transferred to that Entity.
So effectively just a bookkeeping exercise.

Option2) 27% - is not justifiable.
When an x% Rates rise is advised it is as a result of the costs of providing Council services having risen by x%.
Nothing is 27% dearer than last year, or 19% (Option1) for that matter.
Last year’s Annual Plan figure is like a Tradie’s Quote as in, this is what it will cost to supply Services next year. And just like a Quote, you cannot arbitrarily change that.
A breakdown of what Council thinks it needs:
On top of the budgeted Rates Revenue for 2026/27 of $50.039m
$3.501m 7% OpEx inflationary increases Acceptable
$1.317m 2% ADDITIONAL increases NOT acceptable – prune the Waste
$5.108m 10% the $5m Deficit NOT acceptable as a Rates increase – see below
$3.571m 8% the Fuel crisis reluctantly Acceptable – but 4% would be more palatable
$9.021m 18% unfunded Depreciation NOT acceptable – see above
Note: these figures do not appear to be mathematically correct but I’ll go with it so the figures match what you have provided.

I suggest 7% as advised, maybe with an adjustment for extra costs because of the Fuel crisis.
So 7+8=15% is the maximum Acceptable Rate increase (although 11% could be possible)

An across the board %age increase is a blunt instrument that has flow on effects.
For example, 45% followed by 2 years of 7% means Rates have moved up 66%. That’s getting crazy!
Also, such levels, and methods, of imposing increases appears to be getting around the upcoming Rates capping.
A very large increase followed by the smaller (capped) increases still reaps great Financial benefit.
That’s naughty, naughty of you Council.
"

29/05/2026

I've changed a word ot two .. enjoy.

I've tried, tried, tried, and I've tried even more
I've cried, cried, cried, and I can't recall what for
I've pressed, I've pushed, I've yelled, I've begged
In hopes of some success
But the inevitable fact is that it never will impress!

I've no more bucks to give
My bucks have runneth dry
I've tried to go buck shopping but there's no bucks left to buy!
I've no more bucks to give
Though more bucks I've tried to get
I'm over my buck budget, and I'm now in fu***ng debt!

I strive, strive, strive, to get everything done
I've played by all the rules, but I've very rarely won
I've smiled, I've charmed, I've wooed and laughed, alas to no avail
I've run round like a moron, to unequivocally fail!
I've no more bucks left to give
My buck fuse has just blown
I've been hunting for my bucks all day
But they've upped and fu**ed off home!

I've no more bucks to give
My buck rations are depleted
I've rallied my buck army but it's been fu***ng defeated!
The effort has just not been worth the time or the expense!
I've exhausted all my energy, for minimal recompense!
The distinct lack of acknowledgement has now begun to gall!
And I've come to realize that I don't have a buck at all!
Or I've come to realize that YOU don't give a f**k at all 🥲

I've no more bucks to give
My bucks have flown away
My bucks are now so fu**ed up they've refused to fu***ng stay!
I've no more bucks to give
My bucks have gone insane
They've come back round and passed me while they're fu***ng off again!

I've no more bucks to give
My bucks have all dissolved
I've planned many projects, but my bucks won't be involved!
I've no more bucks to give
My bucks have all been spent
They've fu**ed off from the building
And I don't know where they've went!
I've no more bucks to give!
I've no more bucks to give!
I've .. no .. more .. bucks!
I've .. no .. more .. bucks!
I've no more bucks to give!

27/05/2026

For those who were miffed that Auckland's 7.9% made the national News but our 22% wasn't worthy of a story never fear.
Waitaki hasn't slipped below the radar. Have had an RNZ journalist ring me and first topic raised was Paul Hope's glib comment at yesterday's Meeting re selling a Ratepayer's house!
In response to a genuine Question from Cr Hana Fanene-Taiti enquiring as to what happens if there is a shortfall in Rates Revenue if struggling Residents cannot manage the payments the quick answer was "We can sell the house." indicating that there'd never be a shortfall in Revenue.
But this heavy-handed 'tool' of Local Government is not a quick fix. Read the attached details.
I don't think Mr Hope's next career move will be as a Diplomat.

27/05/2026

OK, that's the Rates 'sorted' from 1July2026,
Water hopefully from 1July2027.
Note: still got to get that WSDP submitted by 30June2026.

Now let's get on with Amalgamation! .. plan in by the 9August2026
The South Island -
#1: Nelson CC, Tasman DC, Marlborough DC, Buller DC, Grey DC, Westland DC. West Coast RC is gone.
#2: Christchurch CC, Kaikoura DC, Hurunui DC, Waimakariri DC, Selwyn DC. ECan is gone.
#3: Timaru DC, Ashburton DC, Waimate DC, Mackenzie DC, Waitaki DC down to Moeraki, excluding S**g Point.
ECan & ORC are gone.
#4: Dunedin CC, southern Waitaki (from S**g Point), Queenstown-Lakes DC, Central Otago DC, maybe Clutha DC. ORC is gone.
#5: Invercargill CC, Gore DC, Southland DC, maybe Clutha DC. Southland RC is gone.
plus 5 or 6 Authorities for the North Island and the stand-alone Chatham Islands.

26/05/2026

22 % !!!

24/05/2026

I have been made aware that there is a problem with Credit Card payments for Rates in the last couple of days. Correspondence has indicated that the IT gurus cannot fix it and it needs help from an outside Supplier. Could be a week at least so beyond the Due date of 25May.
Please make sure Council is aware of any problems you have by tomorrow (25May) and ensure that you DO NOT get charged the 10% Penalty.
Apparently Internet banking payments are OK, but if you don't have a healthy balance and need to use your Credit card .. !!

22/05/2026

Key phrases appearing in this article ..
"an important role in how we welcome visitors"
"ensuring day-to-day operations, visitor experience"
How illogical is it to throw Whitestone City on the scrap heap.
🥲

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