INCIVILITY IN LOCAL BODY GOVERNANCE
His Worship the Mayor is an elected representative who I believe doesn’t want to represent, he wants only to preside. Who’s only concerns, in my experience and opinion, centre around his Mayoral alter-ego and around cost cutting core services by stealth, he also probably wants to be NZs longest serving Mayor, perhaps a Knighthood, and probably doesn’t have a clue what he would do with his life if he was not Mayor of Upper Hutt.
I have learned that the majority of the Councillors, seem to think their job is to protect each other and the Mayor and not do their actual job which is to represent ratepayer interests and access to democracy by representing ratepayers to council.
None of them seem to be particularly interested in administering city services or engageing with ratepayers. We have uncivil governance in Upper Hutt by people who don't encourge public participation, oversight or sharing with the people who elect them to office and then pay their wages.
A modern healthy civilised community promotes literacy through public libraries, physical health and wellbeing through children’s play grounds, sports ground and parks, healthy mind through all of those pursuits and the Arts and other cultural activities.
We also live in an enlightened age, one where we have a moral and actual responsiblity for the waste we produce. Personal and corporate responsibility for safe, efficient, hygenic. Disposal and/or/recycling. These are also central and local governance issues that need to be solved immediately.
That said these services is what our rates for! They are a ratepayer funded service, not a commercial enterprise, that needs to proves a cost to benefit fiscal bottom line, or immediate outcomes, instead it is a longterm investment in the base health of our citzens, our city!
Local Government Act 2002
Public Act 2002 No 84
Date of assent 24 December 2002
2014 (2014 No 55).
Part 2
Purpose of local government, and role and powers of local
Authorities.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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51.9% Human-centred experience and communication
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15.3% Critical thinking
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29.9% Resilience and adaptability
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2.9% Other - I will share below!
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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