The REGIONAL RATEPAYERS REBELLION

The campaign in support of the Rodney Protest and the Regional Petition demanding that the Auckland Regional Council reset its rates in accordance with Section 119 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2003.

Contact, campaign spokesman, DAVID THORNTON [Chairman of the Glenfield Ratepayers] email david@Kandu.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE Monday, 25 August 2003

NEXT MOVES BY THE REBELLION

The Rodney protest has been gathering signatures throughout the Rodney District from mid-July and organisers are now preparing to gather the signed protest sheets in for counting and presentation.

The Regional Petition launched just after the Protest is open until 1st September and will then be counted, also for presentation.

It is hoped that all Protest and Petition sheets will be in with organisers by 6th September.

The Rebellion co-ordinators today resolved to seek an appointment with Prime Minister Helen Clark in Auckland in mid/late September to present both the Protest and the Petition, and to present to her the concerns of ratepayers right across the region at the outrageous ARC rate policies and increases.

The Rebellion also resolved to present Local Government Minister Chris Carter with detailed reasons as to why he should institute the first step towards a Ministerial Review of the ARC under the Local Government Act 2002.

The Rebellion is also moving to formalise its position as advocate for the Ratepayer Associations of the Auckland region. To date the mandate for Rebellion organisers has been from the thousands of signatures it has obtained on the Protest and Petition, but this now needs to be put on a more formal and substantiated basis.

There have been many calls by Ratepayer and Resident groups for a Regional grouping to give ratepayers a stronger voice. Rebellion co-ordinators will now canvas individual Associations on a proposal to form such a grouping with the 'working title' of the Combined Ratepayers Associations of Auckland. It is intended that this group be an Incorporated Society and be recognised by government and others for the purposes of negotiation and discussion, initially on the regional rates issue. The aim remains - to have the ARC rates reset in this financial year.

ENDS

© Scoop Media