Media statement                                         April 29, 2009

Big bouquet for Tauranga City Council

It’s not common for the public to say nice things about city councils but the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) is sending a bouquet to Tauranga City Council for practicing top class democracy in the way it is consulting local people about its draft 10-year plan.

“From what I have seen over the years Tauranga is doing best practice in democracy,” said EMA Northern executive officer Peter Atkinson.

“Tauranga has gone a big step further than common practice for a council. Its 18-page consultation document is incredibly clear and unbiased. It is extremely open and honest, telling it like it is, and giving ratepayers a choice.

“When the Auditor General said the council’s 10-year plan was not sustainable, the council sent a report to residents and ratepayers explaining just what the position was and asking for their opinions.
 “That consultation document is unusually clear and written in plain English right from the start. It begins:

Your city needs you!

Tauranga City is facing a major problem….

Over the next 10 years according to the Council’s  draft Ten Year Plan, the funding for the activities, projects and services that the Council provides, will get harder to fund.

In simple terms, there is more work to be done than money to pay for it…..

You can help the mayor and councilors by reading about the funding problem facing them and giving them feedback on the ways they might address it. Also you can give them feedback on projects, activities and services you want them to focus on (or not) for the next 10 years.

“And on the front cover is a photo of all the councilors, smiling and looking friendly and approachable.

“The EMA has been working with Tauranga City Council for seven years to change some of its policies and practices that were unfair to our business members, and the council has been very receptive and made changes.

“Not that we take the credit for that – instead we thank the council for its truly democratic approach. This is what councils around New Zealand should be doing,” Mr Atkinson says.

ends

© Scoop Media