1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,440 Speaker 1: You're on news talk zb all happening at the local 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: government conference in Christus today. A rates cap is a coming. 3 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: This is according to Simon Watts, who's the minister. Have 4 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: a listen. I want this in place as fast as possible. 5 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 2: We're aiming to have that all decided by the definitely 6 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:17,080 Speaker 2: before Christmas. 7 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: If we can go faster, we will. He was speaking 8 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 1: outside the conference. Sam Barton is the local government. He's 9 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: in in president with me now, Hi Sam. 10 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, good Ron. 11 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: So you'll be welcoming news that there's going to be 12 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: a cap. 13 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:31,159 Speaker 2: I think we all want lower rates, so I know 14 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 2: I want lower rates increases. Mears and cheers around the 15 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 2: conference today. What lower rates increases the government does, and 16 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 2: I certainly know our community does. So lower rates increases 17 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,520 Speaker 2: has got to be the game. Whether a rates cap 18 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 2: is the right way to go about it, and compromises 19 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 2: that will need to be made to get us there. 20 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 2: Thanks up for debate. 21 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: What compromises are you talking about? 22 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 2: Well? I think we look at international examples across the Tasment, 23 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 2: South Australia had actually got lower rates increases than New 24 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 2: South Wales. South Australia doesn't have a rate cap they've 25 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:05,320 Speaker 2: gone with other measures looking at accountability, transparency and reporting. 26 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 2: New South Wales has a rates cap but has higher 27 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 2: rates increases, and some of that's due to the need 28 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: for catch up rates. So you can you can artificially 29 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 2: suppress rates and you know, truck along for a while, 30 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 2: but and then you've got to catch up. 31 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: Can you see why of this is slightly patronizing to 32 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: rate payers who are listening to this. You know, your 33 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: local government New Zealand. You've got a bunch of mayors 34 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: and whatnot sitting around at the conference telling us that no, 35 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: don't put a rates cap on us. All we need 36 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: is greater transparency rules. I mean, why don't why don't 37 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: you do that? Now? 38 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 2: Well, there's a lot of transparency, but what we haven't seen. 39 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 2: What we're going to see over the next couple of 40 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 2: weeks is the metrics of the government will be releasing 41 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 2: and again I welcome that because I think it's important 42 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 2: to see where councils are doing well and where councilors 43 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 2: might need a bit of extra support. That's what It's 44 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 2: why LG and Z exists. So I don't think that 45 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 2: we've currently got those right setting here in New Zealand 46 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 2: in the same way that South Australia does. I think 47 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 2: in our context too, we New Zealand is already the 48 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 2: most over centralized country in the OECD. Ninety three percent 49 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 2: of public money spent by Wellington, seven percent by local councils. 50 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,239 Speaker 2: And so there's a piece here around local democracy and 51 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 2: of a question for New Zealand. I suppose our councils 52 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 2: an arm of central government and should just do what 53 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 2: central government do? Or do we elect local councils to 54 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 2: be able to think about and respond to local need 55 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 2: And a rates cap is you know, deciding out of 56 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 2: central government That doesn't lead a flexibility for local communities 57 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,239 Speaker 2: to think about what they might need in their local setting. 58 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: Okay, Sam, appreciate your time this afternoon. Sam Broughton, who's 59 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 1: the Local Government New Zealand President and also mirror of Selwyn. 60 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 2: For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to 61 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 2: news Talks. 62 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast 63 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: on iHeartRadio.