Latest news with #FarNorthDistrictCouncil
NZ Herald
23-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Far North council staff ‘thrown under the bus' with restructure, union says
PSA Te Tai Tokerau organiser Athol Ringrose said workers were made to feel the change was because of their underperformance, lack of technical capacity and an increase in complaints. But when the union asked for data about this alleged underperformance, the council pointed to a 2023 review of the NTA. Ringrose said the information not only did not answer the question, it was provided after the council's consultation period. Ringrose says this was in breach of the Employment Relations Act - Far North District Council chief executive Guy Holroyd says the council has adhered to all requirements of the act. Despite the union's protests, the council continued, giving a date of August 4 for implementation. The workers have been left feeling angry, he said. 'They're really upset at being thrown under the bus. They're being painted as ineffective and unmanageable.' Some of the workers at Far North District Council's roading department have been working in the district for 20 years. Photo / NZME A council worker and union representative, who asked not to be named, believes the council has no data to show the in-house team has been underperforming. The workers have not only responded to complaints, they have planned out work for the next two years of the council's roading-focused Long Term Plan, she said. Another worry was the council's initial proposal named an incumbent service supplier as the 'winner' of the new professional services contract, the representative said. After concerns were raised by both the union and NZ Transport Agency, the council moved to an open procurement process. However, workers were told there would not be any opportunities for them to work with the external provider, she said. The union representative likened the restructure to the Hunger Games and said workers were left feeling 'absolutely gutted'. 'They're extremely disappointed and angry.' The job losses will result in a loss of expertise, with some working with the council and NTA for 20 years, she said. Far North District Council chief executive Guy Holroyd says the Employment Relations Act requirements were followed with the moves to outsource the roading department. Ringrose said the PSA's lawyers are considering legal action. Change driven by operational needs and market, council says FNDC chief executive Guy Holroyd said outsourcing the roading department was needed to improve efficiency and gain expertise not available in-house. 'The change is part of efforts to streamline operations, improve efficiency and provide better roading services to the community. 'Outsourcing certain functions will allow us to leverage specialised expertise and resources not currently available in-house.' Holroyd said communities and ratepayers can expect to benefit from improved service quality and cost-effectiveness. 'By outsourcing to specialised providers, we will achieve enhanced efficiencies and innovative solutions that better meet the needs of the Far North.' The council has followed a comprehensive process, including stakeholder consultations and risk assessments, and adhered to all requirements of the Employment Relations Act, Holroyd said. 'The council recognises the impact this transition will have on staff and is committed to supporting affected employees through this period.' The timing of the change was driven by operational needs and market conditions, he said. 'While it has only been a year since NTA was disestablished, the council identified an opportunity to enhance service delivery and achieve cost efficiencies in what is our single biggest budget line.' Holroyd said the council has been working with NZTA to ensure a fair and transparent procurement process is in place for the new professional services contract. Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
NZ Herald
16-07-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Flood monitor Roddy Pihema saves woman and dog from Kawakawa flood
However, when he went to check on the situation again about 8pm, the van was still in the same place but up to the tops of its wheels in floodwaters, the woman asleep inside. With high tide expected at 8.30pm, Pihema – using a torch to navigate the darkness – waded through the water and banged on the side of the van until the woman woke up. Pihema feared the vehicle would have floated off within half an hour if it had been left there. The woman was scared and wanted him to drive the van out of the water for her, but Pihema was soaked through from waist-deep water in another part of the parking area, likely to have been contaminated with sewage. He guided her to safety, reassuring her as she reversed the van out of the high water to where he'd earlier recommended she go. 'I didn't even have time to think – flood waters and an incoming tide,' Pihema said. 'But I didn't care. The goal was get her out of there. Priority: safety.' The rescue was made more challenging by Pihema's own health. He had recently had oral surgery and was also recovering from a chest infection, and he was meant to be on stay-at-home orders from his doctor. 'I know I'm not supposed to take risks. But then again, I wouldn't be me if I didn't put it on the line.' After the incident, Pihema said it was frustrating that bystanders had watched the situation but not intervened. 'To the spectators that were just standing there watching as the flood engulfed this poor woman and her van – this could have been your family, your loved one, and you would have just stood there. 'Kaitiakitanga is not a choice – it's a responsibility,' he said. Part of a riverside carpark behind Te Hononga, the Hundertwasser Memorial Park in Kawakawa, is on reclaimed land and is prone to flooding in heavy rain at high tide. Photo / Mike Dinsdale Pihema said it was 'about the fourth or fifth time' he'd had to go to someone's aid in similar conditions. Warning signs in the area weren't enough to deter people from parking there in dangerous weather conditions. If the night had proved one thing, it's that not everyone will make informed decisions, Pihema said. 'And if they do this again and someone like me ain't around, then it will be highly likely that we will see a drowning,' he said. The community board member wants the Far North District Council to formalise a river kaitiaki (guardian) role with the authority to insist people move from unsafe places. It did not necessarily need to be a role for him, but would also suit another knowledgeable local. 'Some spaces require a mātauranga Māori lens. You cannot learn these lessons in a classroom. It comes from decades of interactions with our environment.' He and other volunteers, including Pamela-Anne Simon-Baragwanath and Mike Pihema, regularly monitor flood-prone areas using their own time and resources. 'We don't do it for money. We do it because people matter.' In a later email to the volunteer group, the Northland Regional Council's emergency management specialist, Bill Hutchinson, thanked Pihema for rescuing the woman. It's not known where she is, so the Northern Advocate was not able to contact her for comment. Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years' experience in journalism, most of which she spent reporting on the courts in Gisborne and the East Coast.
Scoop
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania Undecided On Future As Parliament Calls Grow
A high-profile Northland mayor has yet to decide if he'll seek a second term, with multiple political parties trying to convince him to run for Parliament instead. Far North Mayor Moko Tepania said he would make the call about seeking re-election in the next few weeks after talking it over with whānau. Tepania confirmed he'd also been shoulder-tapped by a number of parties about entering national politics - but said he wasn't considering a tilt at Parliament "at this point". Tepania was just 31 when he was elected Northland's youngest mayor in 2022. He was also the Far North's first Māori mayor. The Kaikohe-based te reo teacher, who entered local politics as a councillor in 2019, said he was still considering whether to contest the mayoralty for a second time. "It's such a big decision, so it's not one I want to take lightly ... and it's not one that I can make on my own, because if I run again, and I get it, it's not just me that's going to be carrying the responsibilities of being there, but it's also my whānau by extension. So it's something that we are still giving careful consideration to." Tepania said he decided to run for mayor in 2022 around the same time of year, Matariki and Puanga. "It's a really good time to plan ahead, so I'm looking forward to making a decision in the next couple of weeks. If that decision is yes, Far Northerners are going to have me 110 percent for not only the campaign but, if successful, as mayor for the next three years." Asked if he was considering a run at Parliament, Tepania said he would do it only if he was in "a position of power to see transformative change for the people of the Far North". "Yes, I've been shoulder-tapped by a number of parties, but I wouldn't be looking to go to Wellington at this point. I wouldn't close any doors, of course. But for me, this decision is about the people of the Far North and whether or not I will run to be the mayor again." One thing Tepania didn't have to mull over was his support for Māori wards. He was already campaigning for retention of the district's four-seat Ngā Tai o Tokerau ward, with its future to be decided in a government-mandated referendum held alongside the local elections in October. While Māori wards had failed to win majority support in past polls - including in the Far North in 2015 - he believed this time would be different, because during the past three years Far Northerners had seen the "incredibly positive benefits" for council decision-making and communities. Tepania said it was "really unfortunate" that only the Māori ward was subject to a binding poll, and none of the council's 16 other wards or community board subdivisions. Nominations for the upcoming local elections opened on 4 July and a list of candidates confirmed so far had been expected on 7 July. However, the Far North District Council said publication had been delayed because Election Services had to check the candidates' eligibility first. In 2022, veteran councillor Ann Court led the race to be Far North mayor in the initial election-night count, but Tepania pulled ahead as special votes were counted. The final result put Tepania on 7805 votes to Court's 7362. Court served as deputy mayor when both Wayne Brown and John Carter were mayors. She told RNZ she would not contest the mayoralty but would seek re-election as a councillor. Former Horowhenua Mayor Michael Feyen, who now lives in the Far North, has previously stated he wanted to put his hat in the ring. Feyen confirmed to RNZ he would stand for the council but had yet to decide on the mayoralty. He has been a city councillor in Palmerston North and was a candidate for the New Zealand Loyal Party in the 2023 general election. Northland has two other mayoral contests to look forward to, at least one of which will see a changing of the guard. In the Kaipara District, Mayor Craig Jepson said he would seek re-election only as a councillor representing his home town of Mangawhai. He called on his supporters to back deputy mayor Jonathan Larsen as his successor. Jepson made national headlines early in his term by removing karakia from council meetings. His council was also the first in the country to abolish its Māori ward following a law change in 2024. High-profile iwi and business leader Snow Tane has also put his hand up for the Kaipara mayoralty. Currently general manager of Dargaville-based Te Roroa Development Group, Tane's previous career was in supermarket management. In the Whangārei District, sitting mayor Vince Cocurullo confirmed to RNZ he would seek another three-year term. First-term councillor Marie Olsen has also stated she would contest the mayoralty. Earlier this year a Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll found Tepania was the most popular mayor in New Zealand and Jepson the third most popular, despite their diametrically opposing positions. However, the poll had a large margin of error due to the small sample sizes. Tepania had a 39 percent approval rating, with an almost 5 percent margin of error, while Jepson had a 35 percent approval rating with an almost 10 percent margin of error. Nominations for the mayoralty, council and community boards close at noon on 1 August. Candidates will be announced on 8 August. Voting in the postal ballot will take place between 9 September and 11 October, when preliminary results will be announced.
NZ Herald
09-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Far North news briefs: FNDC reviews rates policy, Toastie Takeover
The Far North District Council is reviewing its Rates Relief Policy and wants your feedback. The Far North District Council is reviewing its Rates Relief Policy to ensure it is fair, easy to understand, and reflects different circumstances. Council is asking for feedback. The policy helps guide when rates can be reduced or postponed. Residents can visit the council's consultation webpage to read the proposed
NZ Herald
09-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Far North building costs to reduce as Government cuts insulation rules
Building a home in the Far North may soon get cheaper, with the Government set to ditch a costly insulation requirement and consider the region's warmer climate under the Building Code. Earlier this year the Far North District Council wrote to the Minister of Building and Construction Chris Penk and
