Bill Dalton

I have been saying for some time that the silly season of local politics is upon us, but the real nonsense is about to begin.

Nominations opened last Friday and close August the 20th. Some, like me, who don’t like playing games, have already lodged their nomination forms. Others will play the tired old game of saying they are unsure or not going to stand only to put their nomination in near the end because they have “come under enormous pressure to do so”. Frankly if they need someone else to make up their mind for them then they should find something else to do.

But the worst part of any election year is the plethora of ugly electioneering signs that will soon desecrate our city. Some of these signs are in deplorable condition having been used in many elections. Some of them will show us what the candidate looked like 3-6-9 years ago. Some are bound to have “Say no to water meters” plastered all over them. But all of them will be ugly.

Any overseas tourist arriving in our district between August and October in election year must think we live in the scruffiest country in the world.

Why don’t we ban election boardings? Why don’t we say to candidates they must use the established media or flyers delivered to letterboxes to get their message across? As long as everyone has to abide by the same rules, no one will be disadvantaged.

And our district would be a much better looking place for residents as well as visitors.

It strikes me as a bit of an insult to say to the voters, I want you vote for me because you saw my name on a billboard. Surely the 45% of the potential voters who bother to vote think more about the issues than that.

Frankly I find electioneering tiresome and non-productive. In 2007 the Hawkes Bay Today arranged a campaign meeting at the Municipal Theatre. There were about 6 people there who weren’t brothers, sisters, mothers etc of the candidates. There were 26 of us on the stage. A question was asked and we all in turn stepped forward to give our answers. Virtually every answer was the same.

I fail to see how that helped anyone decide who they were going to vote for.

One single issue group got all candidates to answer an extensive questionnaire then endorsed their own candidates anyway.

Hopefully, this time around, there will be less of that time wasting rubbish.

I was toiling away in my office yesterday when my attention was drawn to a disturbance outside.

It became abundantly clear that some fellow had brought some youngsters into town to ride their skateboards – in this case, in the skateboard free zone around the Napier City Council and Library buildings. A parking warden was requiring them to stop and depart.

The parents’ behaviour, in front of these impressionable young kids was just appalling. He was arguing that they had “a right” to be able to skate in this prohibited area. He argued that the kids skateboards were vehicles and vehicles were not banned – the nonsense went on and on. In the end the police came.

To me, this incident epitomised everything that is wrong with society. We have brought these kids up telling them they have rights and don’t be pushed around. We have been ridiculously soft on penalties. We have encouraged them to challenge authority. Now they have kids of their own, this scary pattern is going one further. The next generation is saying to hell with authority I’m going to do exactly what I want. And you know, in this soft feely touchy climate that pervades society today, there is very little we can do about it.

The really frightening thought is that our society is clearly taking the early steps on a path that can only lead to the total breakdown of law and order. To anarchy.

Whatever happened to parents who would say to their kids, I think the bylaw is wrong, however it is a bylaw and you must obey it.

Whatever happened to parents who would say to their kids, I don’t like some of society’s rules so I am going to work hard and get myself in a position to make changes? Wouldn’t that be a better example to young kids?

Every night we hear of youths up to no good, tipping over cars, stealing, fleeing the police, attacking police. They have no respect for the rule of law.

And frankly that attitude develops when they are encouraged to skateboard where it is prohibited and then watch their father insult and abuse the officer who is charged with the responsibility of enforcing the rules.

Statistics tell us that only about 90% of eligible voters bother to ensure that their names are on the electoral roll and less than half of them will vote at this years local body elections. And that’s a shame.

And it would suggest that they are satisfied with their current representation – that there are no burrs under their saddles. But that’s not what I see as I move about the city on business and socially. Everyone seems to have advice for us councillors on how we could better handle one project or another.

Of course being election year, the village nutters are out in force but very early in my first term I recognised them and blocked their emails so I don’t get their rubbish. Others have rational views we want to hear.

Many have opinions on specific projects. I am constantly given advice on Westshore erosion control, a project which is on temporary hold as we get professional advice on new information that has come to hand.

Naturally a large number of citizens are concerned about what is happening at Marineland and I can tell you we are well down the track in terms of providing a family friendly attraction on the Marineland site.

It is really interesting that everyone has an opinion on what they perceive as problem areas the council is grappling with but no one ever says well done when projects come to fruition.

Of course one of the most successful things the current Napier City Council has done is to keep the rates increase to under 2%. It was tough work to keep the increase so low and this small increase compares favourably with similar areas in the country.

The cross country drain may not be very sexy but it is a real success story. Over the last couple of months we have had some incredibly heavy rain and our drain has proven invaluable.

And we are really chuffed about securing the government funding for the Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery Project. I have been on this fundraising committee from its formation and it is gratifying to see it all coming together. Naturally we are still looking for support to ensure the project is one we can be all proud of so if you would like to contribute, give me a call.

One thing you can be assured of – the project will proceed; will be completed on time and within budget.

That is the Napier City Council way.