Latest news with #Whanganui
RNZ News
a day ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Elation as Whanganui gets voice in fast-track seabed mining decision
Whanganui councillor Charlotte Melser says it is crucial for the council to have its say about how a South Taranaki seabed mining proposal would negatively impact Whanganui. Photo: Tuakana Te Tana A Whanganui District councillor is "elated" her council has been named a relevant authority in the fast-track application process for a seabed mining project off South Taranaki. The recognition means Whanganui could have opportunities other councils and the public may not have to state a position on an Australian company's seabed mining application. Taranaki Regional Council and South Taranaki District Council have also been confirmed by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) as relevant local authorities to the Taranaki VTM project. The Fast Track Approvals Act 2024, introduced by the coalition government, does not allow the public to freely submit on the application. A decision on the application will be made by a panel created by the EPA for this purpose. Whanganui councillor Charlotte Melser, who opposes Taranaki seabed mining, said the council now had the opportunity to potentially influence the decision. "It means our foot is in the door to have our say about how this proposal would negatively impact our district. I was elated," Melser told Local Democracy Reporting. It was critical for the council to have a voice in the fast-track process because the legislation provided limited opportunities for public input, she said. Seabed mining protesters off Autere East End Beach in Ngāmotu/New Plymouth. Photo: Supplied/Niwa Photographer Courtesy Tania Under the Act, only relevant local authorities, identified iwi authorities and select others can make written comments on the application. "It cuts out the voices of community, scientists, environmentalists, divers - some of the people that know that marine area better than anyone," Melser said. "We've had to fight tooth and nail just to get this far because Whanganui is not directly in the project zone." Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) wants to extract up to 50 million tonnes a year of seabed material a year. It would recover an estimated 5 million tonnes of vanadium-rich titanomagnetite concentrate and then dump unwanted sediment back into the sea. TRR's application says the project would bring regional benefits including 305 jobs with the miner and port upgrades at New Plymouth and Whanganui. TTR withdrew from an environmental hearing to apply for marine consents via the new fast-track approvals regime. The councils named as relevant local authorities can nominate a representative to the decision-making panel, provide written comments on the application and speak to those comments if a hearing is held. They met with iwi, TTR and the EPA's expert panel convenor Jennifer Caldwell on 7 July to discuss the expertise needed on the panel and the timing of its decision-making. Whanganui council chief executive David Langford summarised his council's position in a letter to Caldwell prior to the conference. The key concerns were environmental, particularly the negative impact of the sediment plume, which would impact the Whanganui district; cultural, particularly the conflict of the proposal with treaty obligations and settlements; and economic, specifically the adverse impact of the proposal for the district. Photo: "Our council would like to emphasise the need for expertise to consider the potential economic disbenefit of the proposal with regards to its conflict with offshore wind farming in the Taranaki Bight," Langford said. Whanganui District had been identified as one of the best locations in the world for wind energy and the council was pursuing opportunities for renewable energy investment, including offshore wind farming, Langford said. "Our view is that this one project could stand in the way of other projects which would not only provide significant economic benefits for our district (and beyond), but also better align with the government's strategic objectives around climate, energy, and industrial transformation goals (for example, to double New Zealand's renewable electricity production by 2050)." The scale and nature of the proposed extraction, along with the resuspension of seabed sediments, could impact ecological and cultural features which each had their own potential economic impact, Langford said. He said the complex and contentious nature of the application would mean a considerable amount of time would be required to reach a decision. "Not only is the fast-track process and its underpinning legislation new, but the proposed mining activity is also a world first." Langford said it would be important to include the council throughout the process. "We do not believe we should be precluded from any step of this process on the basis that our council has filed a motion opposing the project - our relevance remains, regardless of our position." In December last year, Melser's motion opposing the project won the unanimous support of fellow councillors. A public-excluded meeting at Taranaki Regional Council was expected to decide this week on a collective council nomination to the panel. Caldwell is expected to appoint a panel by late July. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Departing councillor: ‘Social media abuse has got out of hand'
Whanganui district councillor Jenny Duncan is calling time on her 12 years' service. Photo: RNZ / Leigh-Marama McLachlan Long-serving local councillor Jenny Duncan is calling it quits, after four terms on the Whanganui District Council. Duncan, who served six of her 12 years as deputy mayor, has announced she will not stand for a fifth term in October's local body elections. "It's now time to hand over the reins," she said. "When the negativity outweighs the reward, it's time to go." Duncan said each term had its own challenges, highs and lows, and rewards, but the role had become more complex over time and took up "way more hours than intended, which is fine if you still enjoy it". She lashed out at the government and "keyboard warriors". "Costly impositions and criticism from government and the contempt they direct at us is not deserved by Whanganui," Duncan said. "Social media abuse has got out of hand in the past five or so years. "Keyboard warriors who draw swords before engaging sound thought or seeking facts is truly disappointing. All you're doing is showing your own ignorance and bias." The "dreadful" period during the pandemic, when government-mandated restrictions were in place, had emphasised for her how important it was to treat each other well, all the time. "I love my community, respect my colleagues and can attest to the huge amount of work that goes into our decisions. "We're often at variance, but with robust discussion and challenge, better decisions are made. "If you don't understand the decisions, maybe you didn't read the nine reports and attend the seven workshops that we did." Jenny Duncan (far left), taking part in a Whanganui District Council meeting. Photo: Local Democracy Reporting/ Tuakana Te Tana Duncan is one of several long-serving Whanganui councillors who have announced they will not seek re-election. Deputy Mayor Helen Craig and Charlie Anderson are also standing aside, after 12 years in the council chambers. Duncan said she was pleased to end her service on a high note. "The average 2.2 percent rate increase [for 2025/2026] is a testament to how hard staff and councillors have worked over the past few years to drive up efficiency and reduce cost. "We've done it sustainably. You don't get to 2.2 percent without an outstanding chief executive and staff, and a mayor and councillors working hard to make it possible." Some high points of her council career included how it handled the 2015 flood, port redevelopment, and the North Mole and Rangiora Street projects. Reinstating the 'h' in Whanganui and stopping the food scraps collection were also highlights. She was proud that councillors had consistently refused catered lunches, new furniture and a heat-control system in the chamber. "It's either too hot or too cold. We really are here for our community and not the benefits." Duncan said she would have liked to see further action on housing before stepping aside and she put in a plug for Māori wards. "I'm sorry I'll miss the new Māori ward councillors. Please vote 'yes' to retaining them in the coming referendum. "You'll not regret it." Duncan said she would take some time out and a long trip to Scotland, after her council work. "Then we'll see what pops up. Something always does." LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Whanganui backs new water services body with Ruapehu
Whanganui District Council is the last among neighbouring councils to choose a new delivery model for water services. Photo: Tuakana Te Tana Whanganui councillors have voted 8-5 to form a new entity with Ruapehu to manage the delivery of water services. Whanganui and Ruapehu district councils will be the shareholders of the new council-controlled organisation (CCO) that will own the water assets. "This is a big moment in this council's history," Mayor Andrew Tripe said. The entity will include drinking water, wastewater and possibly stormwater assets and services, and operate on non-harmonised or 'local pricing'. This means residents will be charged only for the cost-of-service delivery in their own district, while still benefiting from a share of the savings gained through scale. Whanganui was the last among neighbouring authorities to choose a delivery model. At a meeting on Tuesday, councillors debated balancing cost efficiencies gained in a larger grouping with the opportunity for local voice and the council's obligations to Te Awa Tupua legislation. Following the decisions of other councils, Whanganui weighed up four options: Council staff recommended a joint entity with Ruapehu. The council's Local Water Done Well transition manager Kathryn Stewart said the joint models were projected to outperform an in-house business unit. The two-council model would save water users an estimated $620 a year or $18,000 over a 30-year period. A five-council model would deliver customer savings of $870 a year. Chief executive David Langford told councillors that cost efficiency modelling did not set precise savings but was a mechanism for comparing options. "The numbers are there to help you compare options, they're not predictions for the future. Hanging your hopes on exactly $620 per year for 30 years is an erroneous use of the model." Langford said joining a bigger grouping of councils would likely provide greater savings for households but "bigger is better" was a misnomer. He cautioned councillors against making a decision on cost savings alone. "It's not cost efficiency at any cost. As you get bigger, your ability to influence and the size of your voice gets smaller. [It is] a trade-off between how much you make in savings and how much voice you retain." Much consideration had been given to Te Awa Tupua legislation, Langford said. The two-council model with Ruapehu would create a water service delivery entity that was exclusively focused on the Whanganui catchment. It would ensure governance remained close to the community and was not consumed by a larger entity. Stewart said all joint options would bring opportunity, including increased collaboration, resilience, and staff and technical capacity. But the two-council model would also preserve local voice and influence and put Te Awa Tupua and the wellbeing "of all our connected communities" at the centre of decision-making. The CCO would manage the delivery of water services for about 24,000 connections. The councils would appoint a board of independent, professional directors who would be responsible for making decisions. The board would be informed by expectations set out and agreed upon by the two councils. Advantages included improved ability to fund infrastructure investment, maintenance and compliance costs and improve environmental outcomes, and greater ability to respond to emergencies, manage risks and adapt to future challenges like climate change. In favour of the two-council partnership were: Tripe, Glenda Brown, Josh Chandulal-Mackay, Jenny Duncan, Ross Fallen, Kate Joblin, Charlotte Melser, Peter Oskam. Against were: Deputy mayor Helen Craig, Charlie Anderson, Philippa Baker-Hogan, Michael Law and Rob Vinsen. The Ruapehu council voted 6-4 in favour of the two-council model last week. Chief executive Clive Manley welcomed Whanganui's decision and said it was an important milestone that enabled both councils to begin work on detailed planning and implementation. While Whanganui voted to include stormwater in the new CCO, Ruapehu was still considering whether to transfer its stormwater services or retain them in-house. This decision would not affect setting up the new CCO, Manley said. "We'll make a decision on stormwater in due course, but it doesn't prevent us from moving forward with the rest," Manley said. "Both councils are committed to continuing to explore opportunities that improve efficiency and reduce costs for our communities." Whanganui council officers will now finalise a Water Services Delivery Plan for adoption at the next council meeting in August. The council will then submit its final Water Services Delivery Plan to central government by the early-September deadline. If approved, implementation will begin later this year. The new water services CCO could be established by mid-2026 and fully operational by mid-2027. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- RNZ News
Police operation results in 19 members and associates of Hells Angels being arrested
The police operation began in March 2024. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Nineteen members and associates of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Whanganui chapter have been arrested as part of a year-long police operation. Operation Round Up, saw nearly $2.5 million worth of assets seized by police as they did about 30 search warrants on properties and vehicles on Tuesday morning. The search warrants took place in Whanganui, Auckland, Palmerston North, and Hastings. Detective Inspector Craig Sheridan said five guns, a brick of cocaine, $7000 cash and about 10 ounces of meth were found. Five motorcycles, seven vehicles, three properties, two jet skis, and around $108,000 cash were also restrained by police's central asset recovery unit. As a result, 17 men and two women, including the president, vice-president, and sergeant at arms, were arrested and charged. Sheridan said the operation was spearheaded by Central District Organised Crime Unit in an all-of-police approach to tackling gang harm. The operation began in March 2024 and involved hours of planning, resources and work by a number of police staff, he said. Whanganui Area Commander Inspector Neil Forlong said the arrest of so many leaders of the Hells Angels would have a huge impact on the community. "This gang has been a part of the fabric of Whanganui for years, and the generational harm they have caused is significant." However, it was important to remember what comes next, once gang leaders have been arrested, he said. "The very fact this gang has been part of so many lives means we need also to take care of those who have relied on the gang's activities for so long - partners, children, now all need support." Local agencies would help whānau and loved ones impacted by the arrests, to give them support moving forward. Forlong said local iwi leadership had spoken to him about introducing a meth harm reduction programme in Whanganui, which police would be supportive of. All those arrested appeared in court on Tuesday or would be appearing in coming days in Whanganui, Palmerston North, Hastings and Auckland. They faced a range of charges including importing cocaine and methamphetamine, participating in organised crime and possessing cocaine and meth for supply. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
14-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Whanganui mayor's advice after achieving lowest rates rise in New Zealand
Andrew Tripe. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Stop making excuses and come up with a solid plan - that's the advice from Whanganui mayor after the city achieved the lowest rates rise in the country . Whanganui's average rates increase is 2.2 percent for the year ahead. Mayor Andrew Tripe said the low figure was the envy of the country - which has had an increase of about 8.7 percent on average. He told Morning Report the council "went hard and went early". "Early on in my morality I realised that things were going to get tough... alongside my chief executive, I sent him away to put together a five point plan, he came back with a six point plan to find cost savings and efficiency, so we went hard and went early on this - it's no fluke." Tripe said cutting food scrape collections saved Whanganui 1.1 percent on rates. "The majority of our community - over 60 percent - said they didn't want the food scrapes, they are already doing it anyway. As soon as the government said no I pounced on that and we made a decision to cut the foodscrape collection. "I think that was very very well received by our community actually, contrary to what one person might being saying." He said the council had not only kept up all core services, but had increased infrastructure spending by 11 percent compared with last year. "All we have done is been more efficient with what we've got - doing more with less." Tripe reiterated that cost saving cuts - apart from a minor change to a libraries opening hours - were not made to council facilities. He said his advice to other councils was to stop making excuses and come up with a solid plan. "I've got a saying - no result plus a good excuse equals no result. For me don't make excuses, get on with it and put a very very solid plan together. "We put the six point plan together and that has attributed to our rates rise of 2.2 percent this year," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
