Bill Dalton

We seem to be surrounded by negative influences at the moment. Times are tough – families are struggling – the budget just doesn’t seem to stretch as far as it used to.

So it would be easy to become depressed and despondent.

Last week I was lucky enough to see Napier Operatic Society show “The Producers”. In fact I saw it twice. If ever there was a chance to forget about economic woes – to forget about the stretching of the budget, it was this show.

The Napier Operatic Society has a proud history of producing excellent shows and this one was one of their best. I cannot remember a night when I have laughed so much. The show was brilliantly cast, superbly directed and wonderfully presented.

It always amazes me that these ordinary citizens who by day go about their ordinary jobs can, at night, don the grease paint and put on thoroughly professional performances.

Hawkes Bay is so lucky to have a large pool of talented people – in fact that could be said about the whole of New Zealand.

So I always feel sad when I see our talented people heading off across the Tasman. Frankly I believe it won’t be long before many – part of the huge exodus we are now witnessing – will be happy to return.

When they get to Australia they will find that things are not quite as rosy as they look from this side of the ditch. Sure salaries are higher but so is the cost of living and inflation is running well ahead of ours at the moment.

Accommodation is harder to find and a lot more expensive. Distance to work is often far greater and usually involves train, bus or tram travel and that all adds to the cost.

Cars are far dearer than they are in New Zealand and they cost a lot more to run.

When you think about it – there is a lot to be said for Hawkes Bay. You can live reasonably close to work – get there reasonably cheaply and quickly and you can enjoy clear air 24 hours a day.

So I’m confident we will see many of our people returning to New Zealand in time. And I will be taking a break and returning with my comments in June.

In any job you have to take the bad with the good and I suppose being a City Councillor is no different.

So far, I have really enjoyed taking up issues that individual ratepayers have raised with me, with the relevant council officers. I have enjoyed being involved in the decision making process at the seminar stage as well as at committee and council meetings.

The Napier City Council operates under a very interesting decision making process. Most matters are discussed at a seminar where councillors and council officers alike, can discuss issues freely without the formality of standing orders. Those same issues then become items on the agenda of the relevant council committee meeting where councillors can again debate the matter – this time in a formal environment. Finally the issue comes before a full council meeting where, if necessary, it can be debated again.

So the decision making process is robust, democratic and as a councillor satisfying.

What I don’t find satisfying, in fact what I find absolutely disgraceful, is the appalling correspondence I receive by email from two embittered failed council candidates. Despite the fact that both these fellows are imports from Britain their writings suggest that English is their second language. Much of what they write is unintelligible – but those parts that are able to be understood are full of libellous threats, abusive language, filthy language – language which even I could not use on radio – and downright lies.

The worst part of it is that one of them, whom I have never met, and his cohort send this sinister stuff to my home where it is received by my wife. She certainly feels intimidated and violated by the actions of these two wretched and disturbed individuals.

So that is the biggest downside of my role as a councillor – the fact that I have to put up with nutters.

On a more positive note – it is good to be part of a council where there is no infighting. Sure – there are differences of opinions – there is healthy debate – there is good natured points scoring but there is none of the playground stupidity that characterised some previous councils.

Frankly we haven’t got time for that rubbish.

Many of you will know that I have had a life long interest in politics. Even as a kid I followed central politics with a keeness a little unusual in children.

I well remember our MP, Jim Edwards, who was Arnold Nordmeyer’s son-in-law coming to our school and I vividly remember the reaction to Nordy’s Black Budget in 1958 – I was 7.

In every government since there has been one or two members who were appallingly arrogant and frankly I always detested that arrogance. I always thought that if I became a central government politician – which was a dream for many years – that I would never become arrogant. Arrogance in my opinion usually covers up inadequacy.

Well we now have a government which is chock full of arrogant individuals from the top down. Labour used to have its rotweiller Trevor Mallard to do its dirty work. When an altercation in Parliament’s Foyer proved him to be more of a toy poodle, they quickly put him back in his kennel. Have you heard from Mallard lately.

So they have wheeled out the smart tongues. The deliverers of the sharp one liners like Clark, Cullen, and Parliament’s most arrogant individual Cunliffe.

Frankly the current approach to New Zealand’s problems by Helen Clark’s government is not only arrogant, but is also inept.

Clearly they see John Key as an individual, being a real threat.

Why else would they spend so much time attacking him personally. And when Key asked Labour’s front bench when they were going to get on with the real business of government and cut out the personal attacks, the best the super arrogant Teflon Tyrant could muster, in the house, was diddums.

The Prime Minister of this country and all she could come up with in response to a reasonable question was diddums.

You and I the humble taxpayer should expect better than that.

Telling the leader of the opposition he is an empty space is equally pathetic.

Being the boring person I am, I watch a lot of channel 94, Parliament. Last night Cunliffe was so glib and arrogant I had to turn it off – my blood pressure wouldn’t stand it.

It is time that these disappointing examples of the human race were given a very clear message that we expect better.

Mind you - that might have to wait until November.

There is no doubt in my mind that somehow or other, we need to get rid of Winston Peters and his loony lieutenant Peter Brown.

Frankly – on the international stage – they are an embarrassment.

Let me remind you. Before the last election Peters made it clear he was not interested in the “Baubles of Office.” Then, when this totally unprincipled opportunist spied the main chance – he convinced Helen Clark to split the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry – leaving the hard work of trade with Phil Goff – and he has swanned around the world with his entourage, from junket to junket ever since.

The comments of Peter Brown, his off-sider, can be dismissed as the mumblings of a fool. But with Peters the situation is far more serious. How can this man pour himself around the world as our foreign affairs minister, whilst at the same time telling those he meets that he disagrees with one of the main policy initiatives of the Government he represents.

It is an impossible situation and my God – some of you voted for the system that allows it.

One way or another Winston Peters needs to be removed from his position as an international representative of New Zealand.

But don’t feel sorry for him – he will quickly worm his way into another cushy number at the taxpayer’s expense – it is all he knows.

I have to say I am beginning to despair about New Zealand society. I hate to see our young people settling in Australia but frankly I can’t blame them.

As of next month I will have two of my three kids settled in Melbourne and frankly if I was in my 20’s, that’s where I would be too.

All this nonsense about not being able to buy home-made jam – not allowed birthday cakes and other piddling decisions probably made by some kid in Wellington is starting to drive me nuts. And this enormous over-regulation is one of the real things that is driving our youngsters away.

What is needed in this country is the same energy that has been put into developing an army of civil servants to be put into increasing productivity so that we can all enjoy the spoils and hopefully keep our kids at home.

Perhaps we could send Winston Peters to Australia instead.

This month I will have been a Napier City Councillor for 6 months and reflecting on that time, I have come up with some interesting conclusions.

Firstly it is a hell of a lot bigger commitment then you are ever led to believe as an aspiring candidate. I was told it was 10-15 hours per week and much of that was in the evenings reading the mountain of paperwork that the officers produce.

I can tell you that I spend twice that amount of time on Council commitments.

Secondly it is almost impossible to work full time and also be a Councillor. Virtually all meetings, seminars and presentations are in office hours. Many of the informal seminar type meetings are called at relatively short notice which plays havoc with an appointment diary.

And that presents a real dilemma. The stipend a councillor receives certainly does not substitute for a salary or for self employed earnings so you need to either be of private means or find another job – one that is flexible enough to allow you to attend to council matters.

Thirdly – whilst the commitment may only be 20 or more hours a week – the commitment is spread over the week. There may be a seminar for 3 hours on Monday – a meeting for 2 hours on Tuesday – a visit to Council facilities on Wednesday and so it goes on. Whilst the hours are not great – there are few days when you are free from council responsibilities.

Having said all that – I’m not moaning. I am enjoying being part of the decision making process and now I am beginning to understand how the system works, believe I can make a worthwhile contribution.

The Napier City Council is a very large and extremely complex business. Despite the usual detractor’s comments, it is run very efficiently which is a credit to both the councillors and the council officers. To hold a rate increase to around 4.5% in this day and age is pretty good – just have a look at what other local body’s are doing.

All of Napier’s increase is cost driven. Take the increase cost in tar for roads and footpaths alone. Being an oil based product, the cost of tar has soared.

So on balance – at the six month stage – I am enjoying my role as a councillor despite the commitment required being quite different than I expected.

Must go – I am required at the council.