1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: Government is finally taking those full wellbeing provisions out of 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: council law. Things have been controversial. They will ruined the 3 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: two thousands jon Keys government got rid of them. Grant 4 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: Robertson put them back in the coming out again. Simon 5 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: Watts is the local government minister. Morning Simon, Good morning, Heather. 6 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: What proportion of council spending do you reckon is on 7 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: these full provisions? 8 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 2: Well, we know the average rates increased last year alone 9 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 2: was just over eight percent. Well, that's pretty significant across 10 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 2: the board. We know that because of the fact that 11 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 2: they haven't got clarity around what they need to do 12 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 2: pretty much any activities in the scope for what they do. 13 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: And that's good news for counts of bureaucrats, but bad 14 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 2: news for ratepayers. So the changes we're doing is getting 15 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 2: councils back to the basics. We've said, you know, you 16 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 2: need to have a clearly defined scope of activities that 17 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 2: you do core services. We're putting that back into the legislation. 18 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 2: And by the way, you're putting another kicker in there 19 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,559 Speaker 2: as well, which is in addition to what it's been 20 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 2: done in the past, which means that when they're setting 21 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 2: their rates going forward, they have to take account of 22 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: the core services. So you know, some councils on the 23 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 2: decide they want to do something else. Well, they've got 24 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 2: the money, then in the rate payers of what that 25 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 2: might be. Okay, but first and foremost, they have to 26 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 2: deliver their core services. So you know, it'll get them 27 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 2: back to the basics and there'll be in law by 28 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:14,479 Speaker 2: the end of the year. 29 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: What if, though, they continue to spend on these four 30 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: wellbeing pillars, if they put up some light show and 31 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: they say it's for cultural well being and it blows 32 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:23,399 Speaker 1: the budget, what are you going to do about it? 33 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 2: Well, we've put in play within the legislation a specific 34 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 2: requirement that when they're setting those rates that they obviously 35 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 2: charge the rate payer, they have to be aligned and 36 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 2: linked to the core services that we've defined in the legislation. Now, 37 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,039 Speaker 2: there are and there may be examples where councils have 38 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 2: the ability and the mean and the rate payer remix 39 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 2: to go further than that. But our viewers, is the 40 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,559 Speaker 2: linkage that we've put into the legislation make sure because 41 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 2: at the moment it's a free for all. I mean, yeah, 42 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 2: what is well being? 43 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: Right? 44 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 2: I mean, anythinks in scope and that's the problem. I mean, pause, 45 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 2: everything's in scope. Then you've got counsel the lob the 46 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 2: place doing WILLI nearly and now nonsense type pet projects 47 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 2: which are just leading to exorbitant prices. We're seeing those 48 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 2: across the world. 49 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: I'm just getting I'm getting a lot of examples right 50 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: now of you guys announcing things that sounds awesome but 51 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: actually leads enough, leads to nothing. So can you tell 52 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: me that you know for sure this is going to 53 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: drop council spending and if it doesn't, you're going to 54 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 1: do something. 55 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 2: Absolutely, it's one O one that if you clearly state 56 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 2: and define what you need to do and put it 57 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 2: into law, and that's what they're measured upon. So we've 58 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,639 Speaker 2: got to cut more of transparency and accountability measures coming 59 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 2: out as well. Then they're going their focuses. 60 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 1: And if they don't, if they ignore you, what are 61 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: you going to do? 62 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 2: Well, We've got a number of mechanisms through the Minister 63 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 2: to intervene in terms of council performance. You're seeing us 64 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 2: already do that in Wellington and other areas. And the 65 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: best thing that keywids can do is make sure they 66 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 2: turn up to their voting box this year and voting 67 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 2: their elections and make sure they get the right people 68 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 2: with the right smart into those roles that you don't 69 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 2: represent their values. 70 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: Okay, listener, are you going to do anything about this 71 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: business going on with Ray Chung's letter about Tory faro. 72 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 2: Oh, Look, we've made it and Prime Minister's made some 73 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 2: statements around the inappropriateness of that. As minister, you know, 74 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 2: I stay out of local government elections, but at the 75 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 2: end of the day, the voters are going to make 76 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 2: a decision in that that area and that's the way 77 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 2: democracy works. 78 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,959 Speaker 1: All right, Simon, Thanks very much, Simon Watt's local government Minister. 79 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 2: For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to 80 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 2: news Talks it'd be from six am weekdays, or follow 81 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.