1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: Lux and ripping the mayors and the counselors at the 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: Local Government conference in Wellington a new one yesterday, saying 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: stop wasting your money on dumb stuff. 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 2: I think the building that we're in today is a 5 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:16,240 Speaker 2: classic example, with pipes bursting and quite literally this morning, 6 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 2: pipes bursting on the streets not far from here. And 7 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:20,760 Speaker 2: it looks very nice, and it's great, and it's very 8 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,479 Speaker 2: nice for us politicians to have a wonderful space to 9 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 2: make some great speeches in. But can anyone seriously say 10 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 2: that was the right financial decision? 11 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 3: And so on? 12 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: That was luxon yesterday. The conference continues today for day two. 13 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: We did actually try to get someone on from Local 14 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: Government New Zealand, but not available. I suspect there are 15 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 1: a few drinking poohs last night and maybe people didn't 16 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: want to get up. I don't know, I'm speculating. But 17 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: luckily this morning we have Matt Cowley, who is with 18 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: the Local Government Business Forum. He's the chair. Matt, Good morning, 19 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: Good morning, Ryan, thank you for being with me. I 20 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: really appreciate your time. What did you make of Luckson's comments. 21 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: I think he's getting ahead of the announcements which will 22 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 3: possibly be made today around the city and regional deals 23 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 3: and that it's not going to be a free lunch 24 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 3: for councils. The government is wanting to address some of 25 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 3: these big infrastructure deficits, but racpayers will need a chip 26 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 3: in as well. And yes, so basically wanting to make 27 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 3: sure that councils are focused on some of the big 28 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 3: issues that they want to address. 29 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:28,559 Speaker 1: Do you agree that they haven't been. 30 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 3: Well, evidence will prove that the infrastructure deficit has been 31 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 3: really big and some councils have been focusing more on 32 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 3: some water and core assets than others. 33 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that's true, And to be fair, he 34 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: did say that too, they're not all bad. What do 35 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: you think of this idea of revenue caps on the 36 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: nice to have things. 37 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 3: I think he's particularly looking towards those reflecting on the 38 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 3: rural communities and the farmers and those that are shifting 39 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 3: to maybe capital valuation and even where some councils are 40 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 3: even looking at capitalizing on kiwi fruit licenses so that 41 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 3: they can gain more revenue out of the primary sector 42 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 3: to boost into some urban areas. When you're looking at 43 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 3: some rural areas that are actually removing their tasia roads 44 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 3: putting them back into gravel because it's unaffordable, and that's 45 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 3: backwards in terms of comparing to some nice to have projects. 46 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,399 Speaker 3: There are some projects that can stand up on their own. 47 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 3: But yeah, a real focus needs to go on those 48 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 3: councils to make sure they're focusing on this peak into 49 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 3: infrastructure deficits. 50 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, basically the whole revenue model needs a total rethink. 51 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: And that's quite innovative one that you mentioned for rural areas, 52 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 1: but they need it basically just because you've got a 53 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: fifteen percent average rates increase at the moment for across 54 00:02:55,440 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: the country for anyone who's paying rates, which is really 55 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: hard to stomach. And as you know, as we mentioned 56 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: the other week, adding to the inflation problem as well 57 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: has been Matt, thank you very much for your time. 58 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: Matt Carley with US Local Government Business Forum Chair. That 59 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: Local Government conference continues today and we had I did 60 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: hear some comment from Tory Farno the willing to me 61 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: saying that she thought he Luxan was punching down on 62 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 1: the Meyors yesterday. 63 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 3: I don't know. 64 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: I just think they kind of they kind of needed it, 65 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 1: didn't they. You know, it's not personal either, it's not personal. 66 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: It's not saying that you there's something wrong with you 67 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: as a as an individual, just that as a collective, 68 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: perhaps they have been looking in the wrong direction. 69 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 3: For more from News Talks ad B. Listen live on 70 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 3: air or online, and 71 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 2: Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our 72 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: podcasts on IR Radio.