April 9 2024
FOUR SEASON’S PAINTING & DECORATING Ryan Best 021 088 61659
Kaipara’s Only Regional Newspaper | Kaipara owned and Operated
four_seasonspainting@outlook.com
10,510 Copies DELIVERED FREE throughout the Kaipara
Council: ‘government should pay’ u by Paul Campbell
Proposals to cut its funding for emergency services and sports facilities to free up $2.6 million for other work have prompted Northland Regional Council to direct the burden on to the central government.
Peanut harvest field day
Harvesting preparations are underway across six peanut growing sites in Kaipara and Northland with hopes …
P3
Double win for lifesavers
Recently, the Surf Life Saving Baylys Beach team came back victorious from the National Inflatable Rescue …
P5
A legendary engagement
A date is set, keynote speakers engaged and invitations out for a legendary event envisioned to inspire future …
P7
“For us, the real question is why things like critical health services are having to be topped up by council rates,” says deputy chair Tui Shortland. “Why aren’t these critical lifesaving services being funded properly by the government in the first place? Central government should be filling the funding gap for critical emergency services like Northland’s rescue choppers rather than the region’s ratepayers.” The regional sports facilities rate is another thing NRC wants to stop. While the rate generates $1.59 million a year, it says the provision is not a core regional council function, and funding should go to other council services. However, Northland MP Craig McCullum says in the 2023– 24 year, the government “via the Accident Compensation Commission and Health New Zealand contributed $128 million p Tui Shortland, NRC deputy chair to helicopter services nationally. Services like St John are also about a achieve the purpose of the rate of having sense of community ownership as well. regional benefit. “That is incorrect. There I have no problem with NRC seeking are several current and emerging projects ratepayer feedback, but I am certainly that are of regional significance now at fine with a $12 rate contribution, and I risk of not being delivered. think that’s true for many.” “Sport Northland is also disappointed Sport Northland CEO John Wansbone with NRC’s proposal to cease funding of says he’s disappointed in NRC’s proposal our emergency services. We recognise that the remaining projects on the council- how crucial it is that funding continues approved Northland Sport Facilities Plan and therefore strongly encourage all are now much smaller and not likely to Northlanders to submit their feedback in
support of option three, seeking NRC to continue to fund both the emergency services and sporting facilities.” Cr Shortland says the two allocations are “putting very real pressure on council’s ability to raise rates to deliver on its core roles and functions, such as flood management, biosecurity, climate resilience, water and catchment management. “There are many partner agencies that respond during Civil Defence responses, including the Police and Fire and Emergency NZ. However, that doesn’t mean that councils should fund these agencies. Those who wish to make a contribution to emergency services could continue to do so through the various fundraising initiatives those agencies run. “We have already heard from the Northland Emergency Services Trust during this consultation period that the provision of helicopter services enables specialist medical services to be concentrated in central locations, saving the government millions in costs annually. This further supports the council’s view that the government should be wholly funding helicopter rescue services.” NRC is currently consulting on a proposal to stop its funding as part of its Long Term Plan 2024–2034, which is out until Friday, April 19. ¢
120 Mark II
120e Mark II
130
38.2 cc - 1.4 kW - 14” Bar - 3/8” LP Chain - 4.85 kg
38.2 cc - 1.4 kW - 16” Bar - 3/8” LP Chain - 5.1 kg
38.0 cc - 1.5 kW - 16” Bar - 3/8” LP Chain - 4.7 kg
$
449
$
499
$
569
Your local authorised Husqvarna Dealer:
Farrand & Mason Ltd GENERAL & PRECISION ENGINEERS
*
5 YEAR DOMESTIC WARRANTY #
Phone: 09 439 7335 Normanby Street, Dargaville
#
Terms and Conditions apply, see HUSQVARNA.COM for details.
visit husqvarna.com today