News

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 ?

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

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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.

Is that something we think a consortium of Central and Local Government entities should be providing finance for ?

Is that something we think the Government should consult people about before it is put in place ?

Click on the blue heading above to read more.

One of our team found a piece of paper with some notes on it in a recent clean up of the office. The note was headed up with the words:

This Is Basically Impossible

This note was written around March 2025 and the words were about bringing in the change needed for the election.

Click on the blue heading above to read more.

A bit of news we think many of our supporters will be pleased to hear.

Click on the blue heading above to read the press release.