This Opinion Piece is my private opinion. It is NOT written in my capacity as an elected Mercury Bay Ward District Councillor. I do NOT speak on behalf of Council. It is part of the 6-monthly updates I undertook to provide the electorate (when elected).
I INTRO:
Ray van Beynen’s opinion piece: “Major Culture Shift needed” (p2, March 17, 2026, The Coromandel Informer) embryonically builds on “A fish rots from the head down“, an article I penned in The Coromandel Informer almost two years ago to the day (April 16, 2024).
Ray’s assertion: “Logically, you would think that the TCDC is there to serve the best interests of their community by being fiscally responsible and adhering to the strategic direction set by the elected officials” resonates well with most of us — an honest opinion and reflection from a community member with standing.
We were sworn in as Councillors five months ago (October 31, 2025). Only four (of 10 outgoing) District Councillors returned to office – one as the newly elected Mayor. The electorate, clearly stated through our votes: “Enough is Enough“.
Newly Elected Members (EMs) at district and community board level stood for change, paraphrased around:
- No more unsustainable rate increases.
- Value for our rates.
- Back-to-basics.
- Wanting to be listened to, and more importantly, heard (local empowerment).
II SCORE CARD (TO-DATE):
1. Forty-five (45) days from being sworn in, we revoked the previous Council’s rejection of openness and transparency. We adopted the Chief Ombudsman’s recommendations. Council meetings and “workshops” are now open to the public, live-streamed, and available post-meetings on the web.
2. Today (March 24, 2026), we are about to give effect to consultation documentation for this year’s proposed 3.77% rate rise (FY2026/27: $122m rate envelope). A whopping, almost 11% reduction (equalling $12.6m of your money) from a TCDC “Business-as-Usual” projected 14.6% rate rise ($134.6m envelope).
3. Next up (Apr-Jun 2026) is the rate review, i.e. who pays what, of the proposed FY2026/27 $122m rate envelope. This must be completed/adopted by June 30, 2026. The previous Council’s LV-to-CV decision will inform part of that answer. As will discussions on targeted rates and giving greater weight to UAGC (Uniform Annual General Charge), a fixed district charge for each separately used or inhabited part of a rating unit, regardless of property value.
4. Local Water Done Well starts July 1, 2026. In parallel, we are considering accelerating the rollout (completion) of water metering, enabling us to unbundle water pricing for metered and unmetered users early.
5. We are reviewing depreciation, risk and funding policies to ensure they are fit for purpose and represent best practice. Some of these policies have not been reviewed for 10-15 years. Good governance dictates this should be done regularly every 3-year term. It impacts infrastructure planning/build/ maintenance; how we procure; how we measure value for money; etc.
6. Importantly, like-minded Councillors are working hard to give effect to our next LTP 2027/37 plan, for it to become a real, feasible, long-term plan focused on “Back-to-Basics” statutory services and sustainable economic growth. A plan underpinned by fully costed, realistic budgets, reflecting controlled future rate rises (<4% p.a.), a high degree of User-Pay for non-core services, and a targeted visitor approach with domestic and int. tourists paying a much higher, fairer share of the build/upkeep costs for our amenities and infrastructure – as opposed to continue leaving that to the ratepayers, and them, the tourists, enjoying the benefit(s).
III HOLD YOUR EMs TO ACCOUNT:
Past EMs are accountable and must take responsibility for many of our present predicaments. Fact.
However, present EMs cannot hide behind that fact. That would be a failure of leadership and discipline rather than a failure of process. Councillors control policy direction, budgets, and priorities. We must therefore accept responsibility for outcomes rather than attributing them mainly to staff, legislation, or external events.
To Ray van Beynen: YES, metaphorically, Rome is burning. We are focused and hard at work changing that structurally. However, remember: Rome was not built in one day. Realistically, some structural challenges will take more than one term to change and bed in.
Hold EMs accountable. Share concerns and observations. Know your input influences decisions. Participate in public debates/consultations. Challenge EMs to “walk the talk”. Shape your community’s future. Your engagement and involvement are vital.
In 2 1/2-years’ time, you get to “weigh each EM on the scale of public opinion”. Democracy is imperfect, but the best we have. Let’s make it work by being involved.
What do you think?
