Congratulations Lawrence and Kerry
August 1st, 2008 at 8:36 am by David FarrarAaron Bhatnagar blogs on the results of the Local Government NZ elections which saw Hastings District Mayor Lawrence Yule elected President and Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast Vice-President. I expected Lawrence to win the top job as the smaller councils do tend to be a bit wary of the larger Councils dominating.
One can understand they are so wary, when you see what Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey said:
Yesterday, Mr Harvey wished Mr Yule well – but then launched a fresh attack, saying urban centres were the powerhouse of the economy but would continue to be denied a voice in local government.
“The country survives on the strength of the cities and what we bring to the economy. Local government believes it is based around a bunch of cow cockies,” he said.
“I’d rather have cities than cows. It’s always anti-Auckland, it pulls down the competitiveness of New Zealand. It holds New Zealand back. It’s a bizarre sort of thinking that the cities need to be punished. “The rural sector has always dominated local government. This is the sector with their roads that no one drives on, and places no one goes to.
“They think a farmer from Hawke’s Bay can spend that amount of time profiling local government. That’s what they voted for.”
And people wonder why the term JAFA is so popular. Harvey is arrogant and ungracious.
August 1st, 2008 at 8:45 am
Harvey made similar comments before the vote: http://homepaddock.wordpress.com/2008/07/28/size-doesnt-really-matter-bob/
I stand to be corrected but I think Lawrence was electorate chair for Micahel Laws when he (Laws) was a National MP. If he could do that, presiding over Local Government will be a breeze.
Vote:August 1st, 2008 at 8:48 am
Not just a JAFA, also a former President of the Labout Party. When it comes to big mouths, that’s double jeopardy.
Vote:August 1st, 2008 at 8:56 am
Bob does come across as a karnt.
Vote:August 1st, 2008 at 9:08 am
“…The country survives on the strength of the cities and what we bring to the economy. Local government believes it is based around a bunch of cow cockies, he said. I’d rather have cities than cows. It’s always anti-Auckland, it pulls down the competitiveness of New Zealand. It holds New Zealand back…”
What holds New Zealand back is the idea that one group must have dominance over the other. The farms need the cities and the cities need the farms. Every group squealing for more power exists only because a paralell group has supported it’s development.
Harvey is demonstrating divisive politics. Play one group off against the other while appealing to the majority of your electorate for maximum vote potential. It’s all about Harvey, not what’s good for the people.
Vote:August 1st, 2008 at 9:35 am
Sheesh.
And Bob Harvey wonders why not everyone likes mayors from the big smoke. Insulting the voters before an election, and the clear winner afterwards. No doubt thats a sure-fire recipe for popularity in the suburban wasteland he reigns over.
Even by his own standards of foot-in-mouth stupidity, this is outstanding.
And why we’re laughing at you Bob, how is your proof that the CIA assasinated Norm Kirk coming along?
Vote:August 1st, 2008 at 10:33 am
My commercial property in West Auckland is doing well.
Vote:Always invest where the mayor is an unashamed bludger. There is more money in investing where the local government people are experts in bludging off the taxpayer than there is, investing in country areas like my home with decent local body politicians.
Bob Harvey was a “Caring Understanding Nineties Type”. The acronym is appropriate.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:44 am
Well if Chairman Bob is so enamoured of our urban powerhouses, perhaps he might consider dropping his landgrab efforts in Rodney District. After all, if it is the cities that make this country what it is (and that might explain an awful lot in itself) then why would Bob want the wine areas of western Rodney? Oh hang on, I think I’ve answered that question for myself…the lengths some people will go to to protect their chardonnay supplies.
Vote:August 1st, 2008 at 11:37 am
Now, Aaron was not too gracious towards his local body political opponents after he was cast into the political wilderness in 2004.
Vote:August 1st, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Steady on PeterWn – I was plenty gracious on my blog after my loss for the community board in 2004. If I recall correctly, I congratulated all successful candidates “of all flavours” a couple of hours after the C&R loss in the ward.
However, given that the Hubbard/City Vision council had a honeymoon that only lasted one week, I was in opposition mode boots ‘n all not long after the October elections. But that’s a completely different matter to post election commentary.
You miss the key point here – that Bob Harvey’s comments towards people whose votes he wanted for Kerry were totally counterproductive. If he wanted to win votes for Kerry Prendergast, he shouldn’t have been disparaging of provincial centres.
My comments, as someone in opposition towards the Hubbard/City Vision/Action Hobson bloc, were in complete keeping with what an opposition politician should do -which is criticise their programs and point out their mistakes. I wasn’t trying to win support or favour from my opponents!
Vote:August 1st, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Just another layer of bureaucracy that is an expense on ratepayers providing an Annual Junket for Councillors,no value and unnecessary.
Vote:August 1st, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Aaron – I thought this bullying and boots ‘n’ all treatment was the preserve of Helen Clark, Trevor Mallard, Winston Peters and co., and not the sort of thing expected from right of centre politicians – central and local. Some of the stuff seemed rather defamatory, like taking complaints to the Auditor General which seemed to have virtually no substance and which he did not uphold. One would think this was done more for a political stunt than out of genuine concern, thus diverting him from his proper work and wasting long suffering taxpayers’ money.
Vote:August 1st, 2008 at 9:36 pm
PeterWn – If material put out by C&R or myself was defamatory, why didn’t my opponents sue? The reason of course is that it was truthful and the last thing my opponents wanted was attention drawn to their alleged financial slackness and other sins, such as breaking election promises on rates, voting conservatively, even protecting the integrity of local parks.
As for the auditor general over the Digital Earth saga – he did not choose to take those complaints further, but I do note that former Cr Richard Simpson was indeed criticised by the Chief Executive of Auckland City for not declaring a conflict of interest. After all – he and his wife were committee members of a society that he was arguing money for, along with Caughey and her husband plus Hubbard’s Chief of Staff. Not a hang-able offense, but certainly showing poor judgment. Ultimately the voters decided whether Richard Simpson was fit to be their local councillor or not – and they decided he wasn’t.
As for taxpayer/raterpayer money being saved – don’t you worry about that. My opponents (Simpson, Caughey, Hubbard plus the City Vision wastrels) were appalling wasters of money with their pet projects, infighting and self indulgent junkets. Their removal from office will save ratepayers far in excess of any comparatively tiny inquiry costs into their allegedly improper behaviour.
Vote: