Hutt City Council has approved a plan that will sharply increase rates—placing an unsustainable burden on many households.
I’ve consistently called for stronger spending controls, but around the Council table, those calls were largely ignored. While some modest savings have been identified, they’ve been quickly eclipsed by new spending initiatives and cost escalations.
But with the election season underway, fiscal responsibility has suddenly become the flavour of the month!
Mayor Barry, in his closing remarks on the Annual Plan, and the Council CEO in her pre-election report, have both acknowledged the need to find efficiencies and reset priorities. That’s encouraging, but we’ve heard similar “back to basics” calls before—without significant results.
Several mayoral candidates are now promising line-by-line cost reviews or similar measures. The question is: who has the determination and leadership to make the tough calls, resist new big-ticket spending, and deliver the step change our city needs?
Think carefully when it comes time to vote. If we elect a mayor and councillors promising to do a lot of lovely new things with our money, don’t be surprised when it comes time to pay for it.
If elected, I’ll present a focused three-point plan to the incoming Mayor and Councillors—designed to restore financial discipline and rebuild public trust:
- Rewrite the Financial Strategy
The current strategy has failed to deliver its intended outcomes, and residents are paying the price. A comprehensive reset is essential.
- Independent Cost Review
Council’s operating costs have doubled. We need fresh, experienced eyes to challenge embedded spending, identify real savings, and drive meaningful change.
- Stronger Financial Controls
Large expenditures must require robust business cases and full reporting to elected members and the public. Firmer oversight is needed to ensure transparency and accountability.
Let’s do the right thing and fight to keep the city affordable for all!
