Affordable City Launched – New Zealand’s Nationwide Local Body Political Party!
New Zealand now has new force in local body politics: the Affordable City national umbrella of local body political parties. The move was announced today by party spokesman Stephen Berry, who will be standing as a candidate in the Waitemata & Gulf council ward for Affordable Auckland. “Now there is a real alternative to the rash of councils who make property ownership unaffordable through over-regulation and excessive rates.”
Currently six Affordable parties have been established throughout the country, with candidates contesting council seats in Auckland, Hutt City, Wellington, Masterton, Porirua and Invercargill. “As the local body elections approach, Affordable City will be launching local body parties in more districts and boroughs around New Zealand.”
All Affordable parties under the Affordable City umbrella share the view that the only real way to achieve affordable living in our cities and districts is through less council interference in the lives, money and property of ratepayers. Each party is committed to five key policies to achieve this:
- Lower rates
- Balanced Budgets
- Affordable Housing
- Restoring Private Property Rights
- Spending On Core Services
Stephen Berry says, “Councils around the country are making home ownership a struggle for young families and those on fixed incomes. Rates that go up every year, irresponsible spending and rampant borrowing guarantee difficulty for the ratepayers of the future. Incompetence by the big spenders in Kaipara has resulted in the entire Council being sacked, while Auckland City Council borrows over $2.5 million a day.
“Protecting the right of property owners to build on their own property, as well as reducing rates, regulations and compliance costs is the key to affordable living,” Berry concludes. “Ratepayers will only find that by voting for their local Affordable party!”
Conspicuously absent from the Candidates page are Tim Wikiriwhi for Affordable Hamilton and Reed Robinson for Affordable Rotorua. 😉
What’s involved in being a candidate?
Reed, I think it just means committing to the five policies listed here.
Beyond that, you get to do your own thing.
Also, it costs $20 to join the party … and it costs $300 (I think) to stand as a candidate in the local body elections.
If you become a councillor you will have a duty to the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi…
Reed, what’s your point?
If elected, I will use my best skill and judgement in order to perform in the best interests of the whole community, not just the ward from which I’m elected.
There are no principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
I have no problem with participation by Māori in local authority decision-making processes. I’m certainly keen to see participation by Tim!
If elected will you fulfill the duties imposed on you by the legislation?
You indicate there are no principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and therefore no duties but that is not the intent of that section of the legislation. Wouldn’t you be oath bound to the intent of the legislation?
Reed, what do you think I should do?
I think you should do one of the following:-
1. Run. If successful – don’t take the oath. See what happens.
2. Run. If successful – take the oath. Keep it.
3. Don’t run.
Do you think you could do 2?
Could/should you faithfully and impartially execute and perform the powers, authorities, and duties imposed on council by the RMA?
I’m going to adopt an “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it” approach. 🙂
If a republican was elected to Parliament, would they have to vote for keeping the monarchy? If a jew was hiding in my house, would I tell the Gestapo?
4. Run. If successful – take the oath. Don’t keep it.