News

It has taken us almost 6 months, and the help of the Ombudsman, to get NPDC documents released, legal opinion sought about those documents (with help from many supporters providing funds), many meetings with our team to make sense of the information provided from the NPDC, and working out the final summary of our investigations, with legal advice prior to release.

It's taken a long time, but this was a big investigation.

We apologise in advance - this is a long story.

We thought about putting the story out in two parts - but the timeline of events and summary of information go hand in hand together.

We would also like people who are concerned about what happened with this CEO appointment, who would like a say about what happens with recruitment for a permanent appointment, to read all the facts and be able to make a decision about next steps straight away, if that is what they want to do.

It is now up to the community of New Plymouth, if they want to, to share this story with everyone they know, and ask people to take action if they want to.

We will present the actions people take with the Poll and the Petition, which go with this story, to the Mayor and Councillors at the NPDC.

We will make sure your elected officials are aware what the community thinks when they make their decision about the appointment of a permanent CEO for the New Plymouth Water Service Council Controlled Organisation.

Click on the blue heading above to read the story

On Thursday 26th March a deputation by Peter Moeahu, on behalf of the Puketapu Hapu, laid a complaint to the NPDC, that sensitive information had been leaked by the NPDC about a contract with the Puketapu Hapu.

Te Pati Maori have provided an edited video of this deputation, which is attached to this story.

Click on the blue heading above to find out how the Service Level Agreements became public, and what we think you should do next, to support the people you voted for.

We were looking in to the Daily News story with the almost $1M Service Level Agreement contract with Puketapu Hapu which had been held up with signing.

We didn't find anything relating to that, but we found 2 meetings where work is being done on the rules to run the new Water Company - the Council Controlled Organisation being run by the Interim CEO Neil Holdom.

The rules do not include any clauses to consider the needs for future water users, or the community in general.

We think they should. And we think the community may want to have a say about that.

Click on the blue heading above to find out more.

The latest Cycleway Safety Data Report is out today.

Click on the blue heading above to see the report.

We've attached the Taxpayers Union post about this on Facebook, and we also have some questions about other items discussed at this same meeting.

Click on the blue heading above to read more

Late last year we met with the NPDC to ask for a forum where we can access people at the Council to ask questions and raise concerns on behalf of Ratepayers.

We wanted to create an amicable meeting situation where we can ask questions to clarify information, discuss issues and work towards solutions. And we also wanted a way to ask questions in between meetings.

We also wanted a forum where we can keep Ratepayers informed on what actions are being taken to reduce rates and debt, and what efficiencies are being worked on.

Click on the blue heading above to find out how our first meeting went.

That is 2.5 to 3 positions wrapped up in one.

Is that actually able to be done successfully ?

Click on the blue heading above to read more.

One of our team sat down with Moira George, the Chairman of the committee, to ask more about what they are up to.

Click on the blue heading above to find out more.

The Alliance is not a big fan of belonging to Local Government NZ.

Click on the blue heading above to read our speech, and see our supporting documents to go with our views.

If you would rather see the speech, than read it, we will add the video of the speech in the next few days.

We wrote to the NPDC, our Lawyer, and the Ombudsman, on 10th October 2025.

For an update click on the blue heading above.

This month there is more to this than just reporting what happened in the last month.

Click on the blue heading above to read more.

In mid January we were aware of yet another person who has no acknowledgment of a complaint they have made to the NPDC about the cycleway.

Click on the blue heading above to find out more.

All have submitted with their concerns about the effect of these rules making it harder and more costly to run farms in NZ. And they mention the overreach of Governments wanting to gather so much information from individual farms.

Click on the blue heading above to find out more.

The Alliance team were at the very first Public Engagement Committee meeting on Wednesday 4th February.

We really like the fact that the community now has direct access to speak to some of the Councillors about ideas or issues they have.

People can speak for a lot longer, there is time for Councillors to ask questions, and the speakers could also ask questions. There was also an attempt with all speakers to work out what steps could be taken to address, or look in to, what they had brought up.

Click on the blue heading above to find out what people spoke about with the Councillors.

This will be our second long story in a row.

We just want to let you know we are not about to start badgering you with screeds of information in stories. The Central Government is bringing in major changes in how Councils and Communities will run, and this is spilling out into the public arena with changes to Spatial Plans, Consents, Planning and Environment rules.

In case people want to comment on the changes coming our way, we have summarised what is happening.

Submissions for this close on Friday 13th February at 4.30pm

Click on the blue heading above to find out more.

We asked the NPDC questions in an OIA about the new Citizen's Panel concept being used for the Bell Block Spatial Plan.

We thought there would be a reasonably short update with the answers.

We find the New RMA Central Government is working on, is quite specific about Spatial Plans in the future, and Citizens' Panels are not mentioned.

And there is quite a story (in fact two stories) behind the company who employs the Citizen Panel Facilitators, and the work this company has already done for New Plymouth.

Click on the blue heading above to read more.

The purpose of the new committee is to give people the opportunity to speak directly with Councillors about the issues that matter most to you. The new forum has been created to encourage open, meaningful conversations and constructive engagement between the community and elected members.

Click on the blue heading above to find our how to have your say.

There was a lot of debate about the options at the Council meeting on 18th December.

Three options were voted on. All three options are attached from the minutes.

How the Councillors campaigned about cycleways is also included.

Click on the blue heading above to find out more

We are very concerned that the lack of safety with the Devon Street West Cycleway is not being recorded, so we started a campaign last month asking the community to let us know what they see happening, so we can record the safety data.

Click on the blue heading above to find out more.

We are picking up where we left off last year and there is plenty to do.

We will continue with our legal campaign activity.
We are still working with the Ombudsman.
The new campaign for the safety data with the Cycleway will continue.
The new ways we will work with the NPDC going forward have been confirmed.

Click on the blue heading above to read more.

There is some good news for the start of the year.

Max Brough has been busy working with Council staff to find cost savings to bring the current planned 10% rates increase in July 2026 down to a 4% rates increase.

So long as something unpredictable for Local Government doesn't come out of left field, Max is hopeful this can be done.

Click on the blue heading above to read more.