On behalf of the Whakatāne Action Group (WAG), I am responding to Dave Stewart’s opinion piece entitled “Enough negativity, where are the alternatives?” published in The Beacon on Friday, August 30.

Yes, it is true WAG is using negativity to express its concerns about the Whakatāne District Council’s senseless spending, burgeoning borrowing and disastrous debt culture - and WAG makes no apologies.

WAG thanks Mr Stewart for calling it out five times in his article. Any publicity is good publicity, and WAG takes Mr Stewart’s call outs as a compliment – it confirms WAG’s effectiveness – clearly Mr Stewart and the apparatchiks are uncomfortable.

The group does not agree with Mr Stewart’s initial proposition that residents and groups with concerns about council rates, spending and borrowing need to provide specific, actionable alternatives.

No - it is up to council and our representatives to listen to resident concerns, investigate how those concerns might be addressed and take responsibly for their actions or inactions.

And, neither does WAG accept Mr Stewart’s proposition that WAG should have a response and plan for Whakatāne in respect of every Government initiative – not Three Waters, not local government reform, not user-pay approaches, not hypothetical power plays, not imaginary privatisations, not so-called hidden agendas and not conspiracy theories.

However, WAG does await Mr Stewart’s next opinion piece offering actionable alternatives for his every negativity about the Government. Or is the pot calling the kettle black?

Now to WAG’s response to the five call outs …

First, there is no $440 million funding gap. It was “an investment of $440 million over 10 years” and an invitation to the Labour Government to open their cheque book and spend up large building gold-plated Three Waters infrastructure in the Whakatāne district.

In the absence of Three Waters legislation and confirmed three waters standards, no council in New Zealand has any idea what is required, and what it will cost to respond to the new Government’s Three Waters reform.

And note that the council has $333 million of depreciation funding in its Long-Term Plan – real rates money, paid by ratepayers to fund capital works.

Second, eliminating nice-to-haves and delaying other spending prepares Whakatāne for Three Waters, avoids burgeoning borrowing (and disastrous debt) and honours our duty of care to the next generation.

Mr Stewart is confused to suggest that ratepayers pay with borrowing for spending cuts at the council.

Third, WAG is applauding the Prime Minister for calling out white elephant and nice-to-have spending, including Wellington’s $180 million conference centre. The Prime Minister must be on WAG’s payroll.

The Rex Morpeth Hub redevelopment and boat harbour were not passed on to Whakatāne by the Government – they are white elephant follies 100 percent belonging to the council.

Fourth, as indicated above, WAG will not be opposing local Government reform and has no problems with moves towards more user-pay community services.

Suggestions of privatisation of public assets by the Government to line the pockets of its donor mates and lobbyist friends are fantasy.

And fifth, WAG does have a draft financial management plan to slash spending and reduce borrowings over the next six years by at least $135 million - all for the public good.

However, (once again) it is not for WAG (a group of concerned residents) to tell the council how to function. How the council responds to local Government reform is their problem, is crucial and will be debated.

But if adequate progress is not made, WAG expects to contribute an actionable alternative vision and financial management plan for debate during next year’s local government elections.

As always, WAG’s primary concern is senseless spending, burgeoning borrowing and disastrous debt at the council. But an appropriate response by the council to local Government reform will resolve the concerns of the group, its members and supporters.

Philip Jacobs
Treasurer
Whakatane Action Group

Thank you for running my letter on our downgraded microbiology lab services.  I have had more than usual feedback, all of it supportive.  Some readers still ask me why I continue with this 14-year battle, and the answer is simple. I am probably right, the powers-that-be are wrong again, Eastern Bay patients will continue as victims if we do not act now, big guns are now reading from the same page as myself, and we will win if we keep up the pressure.

On Monday, I sent an email to former mayors Tony Bonne and Judy Turner which included this: "Mayor Victor Luca has read and re-read a damning dossier I have compiled covering the tactics used to achieve the Tauranga takeover of a vital service, and the national and international support we have gained. I invite you both to a meeting/briefing in my home in the next few days …”

I have yet to receive an acknowledgement.  Mayor Luca, who unlike the earlier mayors, is a scientist who understands the issue and the urgency, has already agreed to attend a meeting at which I/we would explain to our former mayors how they were badly advised by the Tauranga-focused defunct district health board and others in Tauranga, as were many other Whakatane residents, including doctors.

I have on my desk a pile of complaints which named Whakatāne hospital doctors and GPs sent to be, the DHB or Mr Bonne.  Complaints included this from the only Whakatane GP on the DHB:

“I have to accept albeit reluctantly that we are not going to win this one.  Things are moving on; I have fought for common sense and was beaten by lies, deceit and profiteering.  As bad as this is for our Whakatane community, I have to move on and focus on other things- and there are many other things.

Another, from a senior surgeon at Whakatane Hospital:  "I spoke to a consultant physician today (she is returning to the USA today).  Her comments were there are delays in microbiology culture … Because of this delay, they are using broader spectrum antibiotics (more like shot-gun treatment) to cover all bases.  This is expensive - because of the delays patients are kept in the ward longer-again pushing up the costs”.

I have many more reports like that.  One General Practice manager sent me several examples of bad service from Tauranga.

I am heartened that Mr Luca has the expertise and commitment to help lead our battle for an acceptable service.  I will update Beacon readers about the response (if any) from our former mayors.

Alexander (Sandy) MilneCorrection needed

In reply to D Dawson's letter (September 4), I have read some weird letters (in my opinion) about what you ' believe' over the years but part of this one I cannot leave uncorrected.

The paragraph "The only people attacking The Treaty of Waitangi are the Labour Party, Te Party Maori, the Green Party and the media misconstruing and trying to rewrite The Treaty of Waitangi".

There is only one person attacking the Treaty of Waitangi. Doing so by attempting to have a bill passed through Parliament in which he has re-written the principles of The Treaty and thereby changing The Treaty's significance. That person is David Seymour.

Rachel Merritt

Thanks for your support

On August 30, the Eastern Bay came together in support of Daffodil Day.

You may be aware that Daffodil Day is the Cancer Society’s most important fundraiser. The funds we raise together help us continue our services for another year in the region, ensuring we are there to give support at the time it is needed the most.

But Daffodil Day is important for another reason. It unites the community, bringing us together to wear our daffodils in solidarity with those we know and love on the cancer journey.

I’d like to personally thank the Eastern Bay communities for the support they have given us this Daffodil Day. I’d also like to acknowledge the many volunteers who donated their time to be on our collection stands.

I’d also like to express my gratitude to Kathleen Brown, Shirlie Parkinson and Monique Le Lievre who put in dozens of hours of their time as volunteer co-ordinators in the region and who are responsible for making sure the Eastern Bay was painted yellow.

Thank you all so much for being there for us this Daffodil Day. With your support, we can be there for the one in three people with cancer in the Eastern Bay.

Helen Carter, chief executive, Cancer Society Waikato/Bay of Plenty