Les King

Thankyou for your support

2010-10-09T01:28:00.000-07:00

Well the preliminary votes are in and I have missed out!

On that note I want to thank my supporters for a giving it a good go during this election campaign and also to wish the successful candidates Tracy Dalton and Sally Macauley all the best.

Soon my team will remove this blog site, it has served its purpose, and I'll get back into the throes of things on the farm.

Again, thankyou all!

2010-09-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

VOTE LES KING

for District Councilor

Kaikohe Hokianga Ward

Everyone Matters!

The Far North District needs a better and more equitable foundation before progress can be made. Discussion about improving employment, increasing investment, and reducing debt is pointless if we are limping along in an environment where the crippled are carrying the crippled. Forward thinking is needed to build a district that creates opportunity.

As a starting point my five key issues will be:

1. To protect council’s income with straight forward methodology on how it is gathered looking at development charges, rural sewerage rates, free use of public halls, & a revamp of animal control.

2. Increased involvement with multiple land ownership blocks to find some resolution.

3. Change the current water policy to large holding dams that do not rely on rivers and aquifers which are dry in a drought.

4. Much more influence at a Regional level on roading.

5. Good strategic plans to reduce deprivation.

Now is the time to vote, apathy is biggest barrier to change so I challenge you all to get out and vote for a better district. Remember a vote for any other candidate running for the Kaikohe Hokianga Ward is a vote against me so tick the Les King box and return via the post no later than Tuesday the 5th of October.

VOTE LES KING

for District Councilor

Kaikohe Hokianga Ward

Thoughts for Rawene.....

2010-09-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

Rawene has great scenery and presents an opportunity for visitors and locals to enjoy a quaint stop over. The vibrant days of 60 years ago have since shown the same trends of many rural communities although Rawene Township’s steady demise is not related to inaccessibility.

Rawene needs a strategy that encompasses broader inclusion and an organized approach.

The following is an excerpt taken from research included in a tourism report by Alice Eruera 2008:

MINSTRY OF TOURISM/VISA INTERNATIONAL TOURISM RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP REPORT MAY 2008.

Rural Tourism in Eastern Hokianga Tourism Study Page 11-12

Kohukohu participants displayed the strongest sense of community. Participants were very proactive and vocal in the development of tourism. They are very aware of the changes that tourism can bring and are keen to protect their environment.

Overall, Rawene displayed the weakest sense of community. There was
an inability for businesses to work together; this has hindered tourism development
progress. Rawene has the highest number of tourism businesses, offers the most
products, and is the most accessible

Following on from the accessibility however, a quick survey and discussion with locals and business people reveals that the main thru traffic does not stay. They are always rushing to catch the ferry and more importantly when traffic leave’s the ferry they drive straight thru town.

Question is why? And how do we encourage them to stop, spend, and stay overnight?

Several constraining factors are obvious and if they are addressed they will dramatically alter Rawene Township’s future.

Rawene has made no strategic development changes in the last 20 years excluding maintenance. I have photos from twenty years ago that show an identical street setting except for the length of the lawn.

Maybe this is our time? Regardless lets raise some points and ideas to start the conversation…

Strengths

Great ambience
Great historic window
Great ‘new’ street lay out options
Asset reassessment and reallocation of FNDC land, reserves, buildings all retained in this community.
Shopping and Fuel
Art and curio’s or interest shops
World renowned café
Hotel / Licensed café
Accommodation, BnB, Holiday Homes, Backpackers, Guest Houses etc
Motor camp and Camping
Great shore line to view
Good public toilets
Lots of community activity

Weakness

No town plan or leader
Narrow streets
Bad parking
No designated camper van parks.
Under utilized town assets
No extra street development
No real traffic development
Insufficient signs notifying travelers of visitor experiences or that the ferry will return soon
Limited sports activity
No rapid numbering

To maximize these options the following should be discussed.

The narrowness of the street and the gradient are intimidating for new comers. Several strategies are required to alter that.
Widen street by removing lawn back 1.5meters to hall side of footpath. Leave the trees and work around them. The target result will be angle parks on that side of the street.
Special camper van parks allocated and sign posted.
Open up Martin Street for traffic use.
Rearrange future main roads into town
Broaden RAD membership and brief to secure its future.
Improve use and access to all Council halls and facility for no charge.

Some brief notes on ideas for core town amenities and infrastructure in Rawene:

Water

Storage dam required
Tanks
New system, what type of treatment?

Sewerage

More understanding needed, prove quality of discharge and then educate for greater public acceptance.
What percentage capacity is still available?

Refuses

Encourage recycling

Halls and buildings

What about the Council buildings. Should we sell them and put the money into another asset in the town.

Foreshore

Who has thoughts
Decked walk between shops and around foreshore.

Streets

The current roads need a rethink.
The need to plan for a widen street.

Development

A new road around the base of town linked thru the road past the old council depot
Build on current Rad sports area.
More on street activity in the summer. Ease up town rules on street activity.

Town parking

Outside the shops.

Cemetery

Any consideration needed?

Parks & Reserves

Domain area

Future Development

Community asset development geared around hosting events?

Putting it briefly into context, there are many documents which provide testament to the social deprivation and inaccessibility of the Hokianga region, Rawene however has no issues with inaccessibility, rather the issues seem to stem from the inability for local businesses and community organizations to work cohesively and create the ‘complete’ visitor experience for tourists and a strong sense of leadership and identity within the township as a whole. Underpinning this is the need to address the core infrastructural needs to provide the right platform.

Leadership, long term vision, and the identification of opportunity is needed to move Rawene forward.

Ideas on Kaikohe from Les King...

2010-08-29T02:18:00.000-07:00

The following is my take on the possibilities for ‘Governance and Kaikohe’

Good governance relies on a few key aspects, Vision, an ability to Listen, and Drive. To carry this out a small body to 8 to 12 key people is needed. Any larger and you run the risk of being controlled by administration and staff because the core body has too many factions within its group and never sends a clear message. An example of what not to have can be seen in Hokianga Health with 27 Trustees. All decisions reflected from that organisation are from the staff.

Select a group that will fight for Kaikohe’s share of the funding! The flood of money from poorer areas to elsewhere has not been through deceptive means it is simply a matter of those people knowing what to do to get it. We can use those same methods to get equity.

We must determine the future for Kaikohe.
See the following lists, make your pick and we will go on from there!

Strengths

Kaikohe township has flat geography.
Good street planning.
Good power.
Heavy industry opportunity.
Good potential for secure water
Good sewerage and waste water options.
Sits central to both coasts.
A great position to leverage off any area in Northland.
Heavy traffic route identified to Whangarei Port
Central town to Bay of Islands, Hokianga, Mangakahia, Okaihau/Horeke and North Hokianga.
Soil identified as some of the best in NZ.
Temperatures suitable to good growing.
It has the largest cattle sale yard movement in NZ.

Weaknesses

Weak political leadership. Leaders being led. No ‘Kaikohe’ leader.
No one fighting for Kaikohe’s share of the Central and Local Government money.
Weak defence from the current politicians means other towns are poaching business.
Obvious town changes required are never done.
Numerous street adjustments for no result!!!
No cohesive targets with town and shop refurbishment.
Not taking advantage to access subsidies for regular bus service links to the town.
No Eastern by pass for heavy traffic.
Lack of ‘good’ parking, and the old parallel parks need to go.

Les Kings ‘IDEAS’

To fix it - Leadership:

Elect from Kaikohe a town leader. We can’t call that person our Mayor but something similar will do. Get the position recognized by FNDC. That leader will fight unreservedly for Kaikohe. Not the Community Board representative as they have a wider brief.
Adopt a vision from the lists of opportunities identified by the Kaikohe community members.
Bring self belief and insist that political representatives fight for your Town.
Check every opportunity for subsidized money at local and central government level.

Future Development:

Reassess all town assets with a view of sale to fund future Kaikohe developments.
Encourage low cost overnight accommodation to cater for the cycle way and back packer future. The other higher standard accommodation will automatically follow.
Consider Arts and Heritage Centre Development in association or near to Pioneer Village which should house a new Library and facilities for civic occasions etc.
Integrate current outdoor sports facilities and parking with Arts and Heritage Centre and Pioneer Village area.
Demolish old library in favor of parking and encourage shops to integrate the rear of their businesses with that expanded parking area. Good parking guarantees patronage.
Single higher education and trade training centre with linking regular bus services (seek to use and develop the existing vacant buildings in town) Target would be a full Higher Education and Training Campus with bus services in place.
Develop angle parking on main street of town – alternate sides. Get rid of parallel parking.
Access subsidy money. Funding sources are Government and its agencies/NRC Land Transport.
All buses would loop around Kaikohe with different routes in and out of town with identified drop off spots.
Research $2 bus from Ngawha.
Research $2 bus from Waimamaku daily.
Research $2 bus from Mangamuka/Okaihau daily.
Research $2 bus service from where????
Research Shopping mall environment in middle of town.

Water

Storage dam, in times of drought, rivers and aquifers are stressed.
Tanks encouraged.

Sewerage

More understanding for people, prove quality of discharge and then educate for greater public acceptance.
What is the percentage of capacity? Capacity should reflect required portion of development contribution.
Life expectancy of system?

Refuse

Encourage increased recycling.

Roads / Streets

Alternate road should be considered to sale yards or heavy traffic destinations.

Footpaths

Any consideration needed?

Town parking

Angle parks on alternate sides of main street.
Much more relaxed parking control.
More established parking areas. Identify disused sections of the township providing large group parking to allow more street activity.

Halls

Easier access and better promotion of venue use.

Cemetery

Any consideration needed?

Parks & reserves

Community events calendar promoted by council to encourage events orientated around the use of parks and reserves targeting healthy communities.

To sum it all up, everything has to have a starting place, a vision.
Every township needs strong leadership.
Every community should be encouraged to identify its own needs and dreams.
Together the community and its leadership should create a simple plan or list of targeted outcomes.
Then your leader must take up the mantle and start the process of making the list a reality. The key is to start! Everything has to start somewhere…

Les King, your candidate for District Councilor in the Western Ward!

My thoughts on Opononi and surrounds......

2010-08-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

Meeting with the locals last night was an eye opener. First, the startling amount of apathy in our communities. People are so used to being ignored that they don’t even bother having their say these days. Second, that there are still a few key families in each community quietly caring and pushing things along. And third, that there are some pressing concerns that need addressing 'now' along with clear future planning to cater for the tourism future of Opononi and Omapere. No one wants to replicate a Paihia over here...

Opononi residents should be worried about water storage or the lack thereof. Fools who say we should be tapping rivers in the area need to be reminded that in a drought (which is when we will need a back up supply), all the rivers are drying up too..... Storage is the key.

Cemetery? Local Pakanae residents know of the lack of space in the Maori urupa and the pressure the tribes are under. This is the type of thing that we take for granted these days... At the moment people choose between Pakanae and Waimamaku. This needs thought and consultation at a community board level. An Opononi cemetery?

Sewerage. I will make it my goal to ensure that we know exactly what capacity our sewerage is at. If it is around 80% it needs to attract the top development charge on consents. So far all sewerage discharge is meeting NRC requirements. What does this mean? and how clean is it? If it is as clean as they say (almost drinkable) then lets prove this to people and educate our communities about it because knowing the quality is good and believing it is vital to the future of any sewerage system. If it isn't up to standard then let’s stop wasting time and money talking about it and put in place a system that works.

Development contributions for rural consents: Should a person building in Waimamaku (or similar) pay the full contribution for parking, sewerage, water, etc? We all agree that eventually everyone needs to visit a service town and park etc but should they pay as much as someone who is building in Kaikohe or Kerikeri, who have street lighting, footpaths on both sides of the road, rubbish collection from the end of the drive, sewerage and water pressure? Yes we should all contribute, but this needs to be looked at and made to reflect the current capacity of water and sewerage still available. The current development contribution is flawed as in some cases that contribution may exceed the value of the building sought. All development contributions need to be examined in line with service capacity and what is the tipping point to that community!

Some thoughts......

Blog website managed by Les King and his campaign team. All posts written and published by Les King Candidate for Councillor in the Western Ward for the Far North District Council.

Fair Process Response...

2010-08-18T04:12:00.000-07:00

A response to the anonymous comments for the 'Fair Process' article.

Image supplied courtesy of the NZ Herald.

Good question.

Many people ask me questions. And I always start by asking them a question and it usually exposes the real story.

The question is: Is your inquiry for your own benefit or more importantly will it help others?

First you have misread the situation. I live in Omanaia on the south side of the Harbour. I have a sealed road to my back door, high speed broadband 98% and mobile phone coverage all over the farm. I am 10 minutes from Rawene, 10 minutes from a hospital and police, 15 minutes from Opononi and 20 Minutes from Kaikohe. I do not need a bridge and why should I fight for it.

Before we start would you agree that if you collect rates or tax they immediately become the people’s money, equally? That means the Government and Councils job is to fairly allocate it out so everyone is provided with protection, health and opportunity equally and that progress should be expected over the years.

If you agree with that then you will understand this subject better.

Perhaps you are the same as me and live in a very fortunate area. Now that is the key question…

Is it good fortune?

What I am about to tell you may result in you openly telling people your name and personally helping me to help those with less.

On page 15 of that 30 year land transport strategy is a map called the Deprivation Index of the Northland Region (check it out at the NRC website and download a copy). In it you will see that the red area is where poor people live and the lighter area is where the good roads are and the predominantly rich live. I will tell you that if you overlay all projects over the last fifty years onto that map you will find they the all fell into the Green Zone where the more fortunate live. You may even think well… that is just a coincidence!

Eight months ago when the people in the red zone came and asked me to help them I responded because I was concerned about the inequity in that deprivation zone. I tramped to many meetings and stood in front of many important people in this region to plead their case. I told them of the unemployment, the lack of opportunity, and the cost to get out of that area. The result was it got into the 30 year plan, but on the wish list only. Nothing more than a wish list! People in that red zone celebrated but I did not, I was uneasy. I knew there were people in this community that could not tolerate the thought of any money or infrastructure been placed in the red zone when with a little work those greedy people could get it again. My uneasy thoughts came true less than a month after it came into Law. That one item is under major attack at the moment. In 80 pages of that plan amongst 100’s of millions of dollars of expenditure, one item is smack bang in the poor zone, and yes, it is the one under attack. Could you help me, to help them, to hold it there? Track down or email me and I will send you a copy of the Deprivation Disaster Report so you can see the real trek. If you don’t shed a tear I will be surprised! There are people who think only of themselves and it is no accident that the green zone got all the money. Yes it will take a fight to get it reversed. I am fighting for the less fortunate. Not for the bridge, for the less fortunate. If that’s not your cause then I understand if you do not want to vote for me. You must vote for the previous councilors who have presided for years over this mess. It is not fortune at all.

The other question on Joe Carr you will have to ask him? However I will say that he speaks for lots of people, you should check his election result. And in spite of the ‘rubbish’ people spread and speak about him he was the highest polling Candidate for this area.

Your talk about the hearing is correct, and I am sorry you saw my plea for the less fortunate as a spiel. Your regard to the report written suggesting the rejection of the bridges by a Whangarei boy and your assumption that the writer knew what he was talking about is shown to be bad judgment by you.

How do you think the 160 submitters in the deprivation zone felt, and me, as I went to that meeting and when they saw that report.

You may have been pleased. But they were hurt that no one cared about their misfortune. That process was exactly as it should have been. A rigorous public process not a secret meeting. Go to the Deprivation Disaster Report and check it out your name has got to be there.

Blog website managed by Les King and his campaign team. All posts written and published by Les King Candidate for Councillor in the Western Ward for the Far North District Council.

Out and about...

2010-08-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

Getting out to Kohukohu on Saturday only served to bolster my stance in standing for Council.

People came out from Panguru, Mitimiti, Broadwood, Motukaraka, Okaihau, and Kohukohu of course. We were acknowledged with a full powhiri and the seats were full at Pikiparia Marae. A real community gig of all ages with children playing outside, nice kai, great singing.... need I say more.

Thankyou to my hosts and to all those who came to hear what I had to say.

I need your support to get the job done!

Blog website managed by Les King and his campaign team. All posts written and published by Les King Candidate for Councillor in the Western Ward for the Far North District Council.

Fair Process!

2010-08-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

A response to the article in the Northern News 4th August 2010 in relation FNDC opposing the inclusion of the Bridge into the Regional 30 year Transport Strategy.

Hokianga Bridge
The ‘Legal’ process used in the 30yr Regional Transport Strategy is public and open, and included discussion on many items, like an International Airport in the Mid North, and numerous other items including an improved Western road route with bridges, and the Evans submission on Tourism. Not one dissenter for the Hokianga Bridge was heard at that hearing in Rawene yet all submitters including Phil Evans wife were asked the question.

The NRC is considering the demand of FNDC staff to remove the bridge from the plan. Where are Laurie and Sally? The FNDC and WDC can not be trusted to think ‘regionally’ as both Councils have shown their disrespect for the process by putting the District CEO’s on the highly important Land Transport committee. Those CEO’s do not have any care except for their own back yard. How about that! The FNDC CEO and staff fail to participate in the Legal submission process and now they use an illegal process and demand change from their home office and gallop down to adjudicate on their request at Land transport committee meeting. That has got be against the Law. I will check this with the Ombudsman and the Minister of Transport. These CEO’s are not accountable to the voters and shouldn’t be there.

Dave Penny and any one who believes him must think that Government officials are silly. Let’s all put our heads in the sand and get rid of that Northern Civil Engineers report in Dave Penny’s office that identified $237million of direct benefit over 20 years to this district if the bridges were built. Government officials will know these reports exist and they’ll also know that high levels of non recoverable financial support will be required for hundreds of years for a ferry. In fact any official who scans ahead thirty years would quickly see the ferry for what it is. Temporary! Remember Dave wants silence but he has not produced one figure in relation to the ferry fund application he thinks he is involved in, so I’ll help him. Let’s do a quick sum over a 30 year period. He will be seeking a subsidy of $30 million @ $1 million per year to cover operating costs plus $10million for ramps and annual surveys/refits and the ferry will be rusty after 15 years so a replacement at $12million a total 52million. Now add the $237million worth of benefits the district won’t get from bridges as it was identified in the Northern Civil Engineers report and the saving ‘Dave and Phil’ is a deficit exceeding oops $200million. Great results for an option that gives no improved opportunity regionally or locally except a faster, more expensive ferry ride, when it runs. This information is why Dave does not want public discussion on comparison between the bridge and the ferry.

Secondly Dave Penny as an employee has absolutely no business making such statements. Or is he an MP or a Councilor? Dave and Phil Evans should put their names up for the Council Western Ward election. It is exactly this type of sad lack of vision has caused me to put my name up. If they get more votes then me I will assume they have the correct feel for the community. The truth is they and their followers would fit into one car. They would oppose the bridge even if it were free. The misconception that the ferry has breathed life into the area is not evident. Change is coming this Election!

Where is the planning for this district? Where is the vision? We note the current FNDC removed the ferry form their Long term plan with out any public discussion. That is expected when relying on advice from Dave, Phil and Co who lack public vision and want to keep patching this issue and have a pecuniary interest in maintaining the Ferry for there Tourists. Thank goodness the Law requires us to do a thirty year regional plans because FNDC is showing it is incapable of vision. Instead FNDC are going to battle with that statutory public process attempting to silence the rate payers with a warning in a press release to be silent in hopes of hood winking the Government.

The lack of decent road access is why the West Coast including Dargaville are showing very little development while on the East coast they are straining and dragging every dollar out of all systems as Councils try to fix development problems that have gone ahead of planning? Lets start planning for good infrastructure so you do have a viable choice for sustaining your family any where in the Region.

Regional council stated that funding options should be explored and this bridge is a part of a thirty year plan, hardly threatening.

The West coast route is fundamental to improving opportunity to the entire region and it does include the Bridges.

Give it some proper thought. That should include applying for funding for the ferry but remember the Government officials do know that over a whole lifespan analysis the ferry is much more expensive then the bridges. Imagine the employment a $40million bridge builds would bring and the $237millon benefits identified becoming a reality. Central Government pays 66% and our share is only $13.6 million with total cost recovery from tolls. All other districts would help this project along, I am sure. And the only investment is to plan for it and lift this entire Region.

Don’t give in that easy people!

Blog website managed by Les King and his campaign team. All posts written and published by Les King Candidate for Councillor in the Western Ward for the Far North District Council.

Everyone Matters!

2010-08-06T20:31:00.000-07:00

Shifting our district forward requires good long term planning.

I live in the Western Ward and will:
1. Make Council an enabler
2. Seek equitable ‘district wide’ investment into infrastructure
3. Improve planning and consent processes

Planning is what seeks out where the opportunities lie and will provide a program to get there.

Currently Council is caught in the grip of responding to the squeaky wheel. The existing regime of unbalanced investment into infrastructure is driving population trends into area’s that are unprepared for the stress. Inadequate sewerage, water and roads continue to control Councils decision making.

Tough decisions that may not be popular need to be made. This is about providing opportunities for all.

Good planning is urgent.

The Western Ward matters too and we all deserve a real choice on where to live and do business!

Vote Les King

Blog website managed by Les King and his campaign team. All posts written and published by Les King Candidate for Councillor in the Western Ward for the Far North District Council.