News Release
Monday 12 November 2012

Council flags at half mast for funerals of Te Arawa leader and former RDC director

ROTORUA 12.11.12: Flags on Rotorua District Council’s Civic Centre headquarters will be lowered to half mast on Wednesday and Thursday this week to acknowledge the funerals of two prominent Rotorua men.

Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters said the funeral for Te Arawa elder Rawiri Te Whare would be on Wednesday and that of the council’s former Environmental Services Director Nigel Wharton on Thursday.

Mr Winters said both men had left their mark on Rotorua over the years and both had a close involvement with the council.

"Rawiri’s skills in bringing Te Arawa’s Treaty Settlement to fruition and his role with Waiariki Institute of Technology would be part of an impressive legacy for which he will be long remembered. Rotorua has lost a genuine leader with his passing."

Mr Winters said he was also saddened at the passing of the council’s former Environmental Services Director Nigel Wharton on Saturday. Mr Wharton’s funeral would take place on Thursday.

“Nigel joined the council in 2002 and retired in 2010 after eight years’ dedicated service. During this time, as part of the council’s senior management team, he played a significant part in shaping Rotorua’s future development and establishing a range of successful policies and programmes that have served the council well for many years and which endure today. Council staff and elected members have been saddened at the passing of a popular former colleague and friend.

“Our lowering of flags on the days of these two funerals is a small gesture from the elected members, management staff of the council to acknowledge the passing of two highly respected people who have each in their own way contributed much to the growth and development of this district," said Mr Winters.

"Rotorua is a richer community for their dedicated and generous contributions."

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage