The submissions closed for Climate Adaptation on 15th May. We asked for a copy of all the submissions sent in. We also got sent information we found concerning.
The submissions closed on 15th May for Climate Adaptation. In case you think we have forgotten all about it – we haven’t.
So many of our supporters told us it is such a waste of time putting in a submission, the NPDC has already made up it’s mind what it is going to do, they don’t listen to the ratepayers and renters, they stack the answers by only having questions where you have to click the box - so the Submission Results Report they print tells the story they want to say.
We were pretty sure you all knew what you were talking about and sadly we were pretty sure you were right.
But we encouraged so many of you to put in a submission so we can track what happens this time – which we are doing.
The submission closed on 15th May – a Thursday.
On 20th May – after only 2 working days to prepare the results from the submissions – there was a Council Workshop showing those results. We know dozens of written free flow results were sent to the council – because we had dozens of copies of those sent to us.
We have received 4 e-mails with Submission results from the Council. We will analyse those ourselves and see how our results compare to the report that took just 2 working days to prepare by the NPDC. We have also asked for clarification that all the letters and e-mail submissions have been built into the final report prepared by the NPDC staff in just those 2 days.
We thought we’d just get the final results and check if there were any issues with those – but we found something very interesting with the information we have been sent so far.
The NPDC Climate Change Adaptation Adviser is just so proud selecting a few people in the Community to tell them a submission process has opened. E-mails have been sent to these people who they appear to know well, with an obvious friendly tone. The NPDC staff member is asking this select group to let their contact lists know to submit for this submission - and to please also share the submission process with friends and family.
These select few people were also invited to a 3 day workshop (how would a ratepayer be able to spend 3 days off work ?) and proudly stated about the workshop – “the community has organised (and paid!)” (for) – yes there we go again –
- The ratepayer pays
- But was the ratepayer invited
We’ve taken references out of actual names – but we’ve attached the list with a summary of groups contacted (and how many e-mails were sent to individuals). There seems to be a real bias to people who would be most supportive of climate change issues.
Then there are another group of people who have been invited to 4 workshops this year. We note the second workshop was actually the day before submissions closed – the only way ratepayers got to have a say on Climate Change.
Seems strange to have a workshop the day before submissions closed – that really could show that there is very little regard for what the Ratepayers and Renters think if plans for the future are being prepared before the ratepayers even finish having their say.
We have removed the full email addresses for this select group with 4 workshops – but have left in the organisations and/or first names of who has been invited. Our Mayor recently told a group of Ratepayers and Renters at the Local Water Done Well public meeting that he makes no apology to meet exclusively, and weekly, with this group of our community to make sure they get to have their say. Attached is this list and the 4 workshops offered to this group.
So the Ratepayers and Renters of New Plymouth ? How do they get involved ?
By sheer luck in recent years – and now - an Alliance that can keep people posted – if we HAPPEN to find out ourselves.
At the Local Water Done Well public meetings (which no one knew about until the Alliance asked for them) – at those meetings - we told Gareth Green and Neil Holdom they badly need to lift their game with their communication to Ratepayers and Renters – as it is pretty much non-existent.
They can find every single ratepayer in New Plymouth if they DON’T pay their rates bill. They send a rates invoice to ratepayers every 3 months.
When the New Plymouth Climate Change Adaptation Adviser sent all her e-mails to people she knows, and invited another select group to workshops – why did she not arrange that a really well put together detailed breakdown of what Climate Adaptation means to Ratepayers was sent with the rates newsletter - and the reasons why this is so important explained to them ?
Not in one little headline in the middle of the page – but a whole page or 2 dedicated to how important this is to the future of people living in NZ, not just the people of New Plymouth.
Remember:
- This is when insurance companies may no longer insure your home because of where you live due to Climate Change.
- And this is where you may be forcibly removed from your home as it is considered not safe to live there due to Climate Change. Also known as Managed Retreats.
This is extremely important information for Ratepayers, and Renters to know.
The NPDC needs to lift their game communicating with the people who pay rates to the Council.
If it is possible to have 4 workshops with one select group of the community - then it is time for a representative group for the ratepayers to come to workshops and “represent” what the Ratepayers and Renters have to say.
It really does feel to a Ratepayer that we are just the cash cow for the NPDC – and frankly we have had enough of it.
It is time for the Ratepayers and Renters of New Plymouth to have input around the decision making table – before the decisions are actually made.
We will keep you posted once we have tracked down all the results – and analysed them – including the letters and e-mails that were sent in.
Posted: Wed 04 Jun 2025