Property owners in our district share my concerns

I know that many property owners in our district share my concerns about how quickly our levels of debt have risen during the last six years.

I am concerned that we have got to the point where our District Council owes $4,370 for each and every property that has to pay rates?

That’s the figure you get when you spread the $87 million debt in this years Draft Annual Plan across all rateable properties. It’s an increase of $2,694 per property since 2003-04 (when total debt was $33.7 m). By 2012-13, when debt is predicted to peak at $97m, it will have risen to a worrying $4,767.80 per property.

At a time of general global financial difficulty and uncertainty about the years ahead, many of us will be wondering how our district will be able to keep borrowing to pay interest on such large sums, let alone pay off meaningful amounts of principal. We have such a limited rating base, and very low population growth trends , and as well sadly, we feature towards the bottom of New Zealand’s family income statistics, so it’s a lot to ask of today’s citizens on fixed incomes and of future generations who choose to continue to live here.

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Living within our means

As my campaign is progressing the constant theme that I am hearing is the worry about the debt levels and the impact the cost of this debt is having on rates

It is true that the more debt Council incurs on behalf of the community the more we have to pay.

Previous mayoral campaigns have expressed the same concerns, yet debt continues to increase.

Living within our means is an important way of life for most individuals. It should also be an important consideration for our Council. With many of our ratepayers on fixed incomes, it is not easy for them to find the extra dollars to fund the “nice to have, but not absolutely necessary” projects. We need to save borrowing for the essentials and the unexpected , just as many households must do.

But at the same time we need to promote our district positively in order to grow local business and attract new jobs and investment, and build a new partnerships for progress so we can get back to living within our means. More people and investment into our area can bring much needed jobs and help us to spread the load of our existing debt and help to ensure we pay it off as quickly as is possible.

Annette Main

Mayoral Candidate, Wanganui

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Wanganui or Whanganui?

Recognition of Alternative names for the future

The spelling of the name of our district has been in the media and a topic of conversation for some time

The Government has made a pragmatic decision that we need to work with, let’s not waste any more time arguing about who is right and who is wrong.

If we are truly a community who wants to work together, the resolution of this issue will enable us to do move forward and tackle some of the bigger issues we face.

The Minister for Land Information Maurice Williamson told us and the rest of New Zealand earlier this year that, “The official geographic name for the city of Wanganui will be the alternatives ‘Whanganui' or ‘Wanganui’.

He said “My intention to assign alternative names for the city allows people to choose the name they prefer.

During extensive consultation it became clear to me that local iwi were seeking an acknowledgement of something that is very important to them. They wanted recognition and respect for their history and their language.

It was equally clear that the majority of the city's residents did not want change forced on them.”

The Minister also said that “On balance that alternative naming respectfully acknowledges the correct spelling of the Māori word "Whanganui". It also respects the views of those who have always known the city's name to be spelt "Wanganui.”

Now that this right has been conferred upon us by the government, as mayor I would respect the choice of any individual to use the option they prefer.


-Annette Main
Mayoralty Candidate, Wanganui


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