First public hearings into Covid-19 response begin
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RNZ News
39 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Wellington mayoral candidate says cap on rates would reduce accountability
Andrew Little at his mayoral campaign launch in Wellington on 17 May. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone A former Labour leader running for Wellington mayor says a cap on rates would only reduce accountability and undermine the relationship between councillors and residents. In an interview with RNZ this week , Finance Minister Nicola Willis reconfirmed the government was looking into "capping" - putting a hard limit on - council rates increases, saying it would get pushback from councils "because when you take candy away from kids in a candy store, they don't really like it". Labour's leader Chris Hipkins and councils' representative group LGNZ both pushed back , saying rates capping would in fact worsen the situation. Hipkins also argued the big rates increases seen in recent years was a result of the government scrapping Labour's three waters reforms, later labelled the "affordable water reform". Local Government Minister Simon Watts told RNZ the rates cap policy review was yet to be presented to Cabinet, but confirmed there would be announcements about it later in the year. "We're taking our time to make sure that the policy design of that mechanism is fit for purpose, importantly as I've said before taking on board also the learnings particularly in Australia where this has been implemented to make sure that we've learning from that experience." Former Labour leader Andrew Little has thrown his hat in the ring for the Wellington mayoral race this year, and said while rates did need to be better controlled a hard cap would reduce accountability. "A lot of people are really concerned about the level of rates rises. I mean, here in Wellington, we've seen rates rises of 30 percent over a two year period, which is unreasonable and is wrong," he said. "But at the end of the day, mayors and councillors are responsible for making the financial decisions." A cap would reduce accountability and responsibility, he said, and undermine the democratic relationship between mayor and councillors and their residents. "Mayors and councillors, every election, they are accountable to their people for the decisions they've made and if they've made bad decisions they're going to be responsible for that - that gets dealt with at the ballot box. If you take away ultimate responsibility for those decisions, then where do residents - as electors of mayors and councillors - go?" "Coming over the top with a central government mandated sort of decision isn't an answer to that requirement, and the problem that goes with councillors and mayors who get out of control and spend wrongly and irresponsibly." Pointing to Wellington's Town Hall upgrade, he said councils sometimes did need to say no to projects, "and I think in Wellington they haven't been, and it's making cities like Wellington unaffordable ... councils, particularly Wellington City Council, has to show much greater control over its financial decisions". He had a different stance from Hipkins on three waters, saying that while historical under-investment in water systems would end up costing, but "just scrapping three waters alone I don't think can be held responsible". "There's partly catch up on water stuff. The real impact of the current water reforms is yet to be seen." Minister Watts said rates capping was one mechanism the government was considering to "ensure that the money that is being collected through rates is spent appropriately," but not the only one. "We're also going to be releasing and publishing transparency reporting around councils' financials and also introducing legislation in regards to changes around what councils focus on. So it's a suite in a package of interventions that will get us to a more sustainable local government." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Government unveils its first-ever national artificial intelligence strategy
In the plan's forward written by Science and Technology Minister Shane Reti he said New Zealand was the last OECD country to publish such a strategy. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii New Zealand has - at last - joined other countries in tackling the AI opportunity and challenge, with the government unveiling its first-ever national artificial intelligence strategy. The plan - titled "Investing with Confidence" - has been met with enthusiasm from the business sector, but concern from critics who say it sets a "dangerous path forward" and is "worryingly light" on ethical considerations. In a foreword, Science and Technology Minister Shane Reti said New Zealand needed to get moving on AI, noting it was the last OECD country to publish such a strategy. "Artificial intelligence represents one of the most significant technological opportunities of our time," Reti said. "For New Zealand, embracing AI is not merely an option - it is essential." The plan - which was developed with the assistance of AI - positions New Zealand as a "sophisticated adopter" rather than as an inventor of new foundational models. For its part, the government is promising a "light-touch and principles-based" approach using existing legislation and regulations, rather than introducing new ones. "The government aims to encourage investment in AI adoption by reducing uncertainty, removing unintended and unwanted barriers to AI in legislation, and providing clear guidance on responsible AI innovation within New Zealand's existing legal framework." As well, the strategy includes a commitment to grow AI expertise in New Zealand, noting that this year's Budget includes more than $200 million for tuition and training subsidies and more than $60m for STEM and priority areas. Dr Andrew Lensen, a senior lecturer in Artificial Intelligence at Victoria University, said the strategy was heavy on economic growth opportunities but "worryingly light" on ethical and societal issues. "The strategy suggests that new legislation is unnecessary, which I, and many other AI researchers, disagree with," Lensen said. "Having 'principles' is not nearly sufficient to reduce AI-induced harm, bias, and inequity. We need clear legislation and well-resourced enforcement mechanisms to ensure AI does not further harm New Zealanders." Lensen, who also co-directs an AI consultancy, raised the risks of sourcing modern healthcare AI systems from overseas, for example, which might have no regard for New Zealand's unique demographics. "This AI Strategy sets a dangerous path forward for New Zealand, with an attitude of economic growth above social good." In contrast, the Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges applauded the new strategy, saying it would give "clarity and confidence" to many small and medium enterprises which were currently unsure where to start. "This strategy cuts through the fog," Bridges said. "It's practical, not hype. If we don't get moving, we'll fall behind - but this gives Auckland a real platform to lead." A 2024 Datacom survey found that 67 percent of larger New Zealand businesses utilised some form of AI, up from 48 percent in 2023. However, a separate Spark-NZIER survey, also last year, said 68 percent of SMEs had no plans to explore the technology. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
3 hours ago
- Scoop
Hipkins' Continues COVID-Era Attitude To Public
Responding to Chris Hipkins' assertion that the expanded COVID inquiry is a platform for conspiracy theorists, ACT Leader David Seymour says: "Chris Hipkins' ought to show some humility towards the COVID inquiry, because it's an inquiry into his own actions. As COVID-19 Response Minister, then Prime Minister, Hipkins called the shots in question, and people deserve a right of reply. 'Instead it sadly seems that he is continuing the very attitudes that people are concerned about. Too often the Government didn't listen, especially to concerns other than COVID. The inquiry is here in part to put that right, people don't serve to be shouted down before they have their say. "Whatever Chris Hipkins thinks of the submitters' opinions, he ought to recognise that the impacts of his policies on these New Zealanders were very real. Chris Hipkins himself was central to extended lockdowns, border closures, and vaccine mandates. His decisions saw businesses shuttered, livelihoods lost, families separated, and our social cohesion scarred. "Until now, New Zealanders have been denied real accountability for the COVID-19 response. In Labour's toothless version of the inquiry, there were no public hearings. Key decisionmakers were not questioned publicly. The narrow terms of the inquiry ignored the real pain of lockdowns and vaccine mandates. "It was a masterclass in dodging accountability, and that's why ACT expanded the inquiry's focus and opened hearings to the public. "Chris Hipkins needs to show respect for the Royal Commission, as he could well be asked to front up to it in public hearings. His willingness to answer difficult questions in good faith will be a measure of his respect for the people and the democratic process."
