Key challenges of 2022

2022 is barely out of the starting blocks, but it’s clear this will be a significant year for our district. The phased reopening of our international borders announced last week will be welcomed by many. After two years of travel restrictions, we will be able to reunite with friends, whānau and colleagues from overseas. In our district, the tourism and hospitality sectors will see this as a lifeline for businesses that have been starved of customers and skilled staff.

The next 12 months will deliver numerous challenges for the Council and I want to flag some of those here. We are not yet free of the COVID-19 pandemic with the highly infectious Omicron variant now impacting how we do business. This week, customers over 12 years old visiting our libraries and the Museum @ Te Ahu will be asked to provide a vaccine pass. Vaccine passes are already required for entry to Far North pools. These requirements are designed to keep customers and staff safe and to avoid having to close facilities altogether if high numbers of staff get sick or need to go into isolation as close contacts with infected people.

One of the biggest changes local government faces is the Three Waters Reform Programme. Dozens of mayors from around the country, including myself, have written to the Government voicing our concerns about these plans and we have asked for the programme to be paused. The group, which includes other Northland mayors, is working on alternative three waters models we plan to present to the Government. In the meantime, this Council continues work to improve Far North water supplies and make them more drought resilient. We aim to commission a new supply for Kaitāia by mid-year and are progressing a new, deep aquifer bore at Tokareireia (Monument Hill) for Kaikohe.

Roading, of course, is always a top priority. This financial year, the Northland Transportation Alliance plans to deliver over $19 million worth of projects to our district. That includes $4 million on sealed road resurfacing; installation of high-priority safety barriers; culvert, kerb and drainage renewals; and $1.3 million on unsubsidised seal extensions for Brass Road, Ahipara, and Parapara Road, Taipā.

We have been working on a new District Plan since 2016 and in November, we will notify the Proposed District Plan. This gives you the opportunity to make formal submissions on how aim to encourage growth while protecting our environment.

I’m proud of what this Council has achieved since the last election in 2019. You can say whether you agree during our next election on 8 October. These elections will be special for two reasons. This year you can select Māori Ward representatives and the way we vote is also changing. Instead of First Past the Post, we will be using Single Transferable Voting (STV).

Finally, the Council will welcome a new Chief Executive when Blair King joins us in March. I want to acknowledge the many achievements of outgoing CEO, Shaun Clarke, and thank him for his inspirational leadership over the past five years.