Crux - The Podcast

On the Crux podcast this week Cromwell resident James Dicey gets stuck into the Central Otago District Council over what he sees as the Alexandra-based council being "the tail wagging the dog", where "technocrats and bureaucrats" are driving a process that ignores the wishes of Cromwell residents.

Mr Dicey, now an influential winemaker but also a qualified lawyer and accountant, tells Crux that he believes the value of Cromwell land being taken from local community board control by the CODC (the so-called 'districtisation') could well be worth up to half a billion dollars when developed. 

He describes the history of tensions between Cromwell and Alexandra being the result of a forced marriage when local government reforms were put in place many years ago.

It's a fascinating history of two towns on divergent paths and Mr Dicey worries that it will be hard to use local elections to produce any real change in what he sees as a CODC agenda to take money and control away from the people of Cromwell. 

"It's a gross misrepresentation. It's been blurred. It's been muddied. No one actually really quite knows or understand exactly what the implications are. They don't really understand what the potential risks are because it's been fudged all the way through - intentionally, in my view, to make it very difficult for people to understand exactly what they've given up or what the council has taken back from the community.

"We don't really actually know how it's going to be used and abused."

First term councillor Gavin Bartlett says he's determined to find a way for the Queenstown Lakes District Council to get vital new commuter cycle trails built, especially to connect Jack's Point and Frankton.

In the latest episode of the Crux podcast Councillor Bartlett also talks about his heritage that connects him with Bohemia, how early in his engineering career he built medical centres out of straw bales in Mongolia, the loneliness of being the only councillor to vote against more money for stage one of the 'road to nowhere', and why he's not on Facebook.

First term councillor Gavin Bartlett says he's determined to find a way for the Queenstown Lakes District Council to get vital new commuter cycle trails built, especially to connect Jack's Point and Frankton.

In the latest episode of the Crux podcast Councillor Bartlett also talks about his heritage that connects him with Bohemia, how early in his engineering career he built medical centres out of straw bales in Mongolia, the loneliness of being the only councillor to vote against more money for stage one of the 'road to nowhere', and why he's not on Facebook.

Also in today's podcast Peter Newport and Kim Bowden discuss the Chief Ombudsman's move to investigate transparency at the QLDC and the quiet, almost anticlimactic signing off this week of the Long Term Plan.

The latest episode of the Crux podcast series proves that each of our Queenstown Lakes District councillors interviewed so far has a surprising and colourful background.

Melissa White is a single mum who combines commercial cake decorating with being a councillor, but her advocacy skills were developed in the cut and thrust of the London investment banking industry.

She told Crux managing editor Peter Newport investment banking is every bit as dramatic as portrayed by Wall Street movies and she once found herself, as a senior Human Resources manager, on the wrong end of a Friday sacking event complete with cardboard box, security guards and being marched out of the building.

Councillor White also reveals she was one of the very first people to get a roof over her head in Queenstown from being on the waiting list of the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust. She also confirms that even though the councillor role can be tough and thankless at times, she's keen to stand for election again next year and make full use of the skills she's learning during her first term.

In the latest Crux podcast Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sharon Fifield makes a passionate plea for our much-maligned CBD as well as suggesting that a gondola connecting it to the the airport could be what we are all waiting for.

Her argument in favour of the CBD is that it's fine – even great – once we manage to get there and find a car park. The lakes, the mountains, and the memories most of us have of previous nights out in the town centre all go towards that the CBD deserves a second chance.

“Give it a go,” Ms Fifield says.

"Even if it's just once a month."

In addition, Crux managing Editor Peter Newport discusses Ms Fifield immigration settings, government relationships, housing, economic diversification and, yes, even CBD parking.

She reveals news that the current government is considering the possibility of immigration rules that are specific to regions like Queenstown Lakes.

Plus, Peter Newport and Kim Bowden discuss the week’s top stories – in particular the dramatic developments, and disappointments, around the Long Term Plan. It’s fair to say that the residents of Wānaka and the Upper Clutha are not happy.

But we end on a positive note with a visit to Cromwell College, where students are building a log cabin – and all for a good cause.

In the latest Crux podcast Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sharon Fifield makes a passionate plea for our much-maligned CBD as well as suggesting that a gondola connecting it to the the airport could be what we are all waiting for.

Her argument in favour of the CBD is that it's fine – even great – once we manage to get there and find a car park. The lakes, the mountains, and the memories most of us have of previous nights out in the town centre all go towards that the CBD deserves a second chance.

“Give it a go,” Ms Fifield says.

"Even if it's just once a month."

In addition, Crux managing Editor Peter Newport discusses Ms Fifield immigration settings, government relationships, housing, economic diversification and, yes, even CBD parking.

She reveals news that the current government is considering the possibility of immigration rules that are specific to regions like Queenstown Lakes.

All over the country ratepayers are staring at astronomical rate increases and at the same time losing patience with their local councils.

Prime minister Christopher Luxon spoke for many people this week when he told local councils to "rein in the fantasies" and "do the basics and do the basics brilliantly".

As council debt has risen, trust in our local councils has dropped in almost direct proportion. In the case of the Queenstown Lakes District Council, to the lowest trust and satisfaction level in New Zealand - 15 percent.

But down the road in Oamaru the Waitaki District Council (WDC) has already decided to take action. And not just action, but a complete and massive transformation. 

The WDC was concerned when their own community satisfaction level dropped from 45 percent to 35 percent. They hired a new chief executive specifically to engineer radical change.

The change, agreed just a couple of weeks ago, will involve up to 10 percent of council staff losing their jobs.

Separation between council departments will be removed and there will be a wholesale move towards more efficient, digital systems to supply up to 40 different community services that the WDC is responsible for.

Ultimately the WDC wants a council that the staff, elected members and community can all be proud of.

Crux spent time this week with WDC mayor Gary Kircher and one of the most experienced councillors, former broadcaster Jim Hopkins.

Mayor Kircher explains how the plan emerged and how other councils around the country may be well advised to watch and learn, while Councillor Hopkins argues that the pain of cutting council staff will deliver the greatest benefit to the largest group of people - the community. He also argues that unless the current council rating system is changed local government in this country will eventually become totally unsustainable. 

All over the country ratepayers are staring at astronomical rate increases and at the same time losing patience with their local councils.

Prime minister Christopher Luxon spoke for many people this week when he told local councils to "rein in the fantasies" and "do the basics and do the basics brilliantly".

As council debt has risen, trust in our local councils has dropped in almost direct proportion. In the case of the Queenstown Lakes District Council, to the lowest trust and satisfaction level in New Zealand - 15 percent.

But down the road in Oamaru the Waitaki District Council (WDC) has already decided to take action. And not just action, but a complete and massive transformation. 

The WDC was concerned when their own community satisfaction level dropped from 45 percent to 35 percent. They hired a new chief executive specifically to engineer radical change.

The change, agreed just a couple of weeks ago, will involve up to 10 percent of council staff losing their jobs.

Separation between council departments will be removed and there will be a wholesale move towards more efficient, digital systems to supply up to 40 different community services that the WDC is responsible for.

Ultimately the WDC wants a council that the staff, elected members and community can all be proud of.

Crux spent time this week with WDC mayor Gary Kircher and one of the most experienced councillors, former broadcaster Jim Hopkins.

Mayor Kircher explains how the plan emerged and how other councils around the country may be well advised to watch and learn, while Councillor Hopkins argues that the pain of cutting council staff will deliver the greatest benefit to the largest group of people - the community. He also argues that unless the current council rating system is changed local government in this country will eventually become totally unsustainable. 

All over the country ratepayers are staring at astronomical rate increases and at the same time losing patience with their local councils.

Prime minister Christopher Luxon spoke for many people this week when he told local councils to "rein in the fantasies" and "do the basics and do the basics brilliantly".

As council debt has risen, trust in our local councils has dropped in almost direct proportion. In the case of the Queenstown Lakes District Council, to the lowest trust and satisfaction level in New Zealand - 15 percent.

But down the road in Oamaru the Waitaki District Council (WDC) has already decided to take action. And not just action, but a complete and massive transformation. 

The WDC was concerned when their own community satisfaction level dropped from 45 percent to 35 percent. They hired a new chief executive specifically to engineer radical change.

The change, agreed just a couple of weeks ago, will involve up to 10 percent of council staff losing their jobs.

Separation between council departments will be removed and there will be a wholesale move towards more efficient, digital systems to supply up to 40 different community services that the WDC is responsible for.

Ultimately the WDC wants a council that the staff, elected members and community can all be proud of.

Crux spent time this week with WDC mayor Gary Kircher and one of the most experienced councillors, former broadcaster Jim Hopkins.

Mayor Kircher explains how the plan emerged and how other councils around the country may be well advised to watch and learn, while Councillor Hopkins argues that the pain of cutting council staff will deliver the greatest benefit to the largest group of people - the community. He also argues that unless the current council rating system is changed local government in this country will eventually become totally unsustainable. 

Also in this week's top stories Kim Bowden and Peter Newport discuss the ongoing $300 million tug of assets between Cromwell and Alexandra and an alarming increase in the issue of QLDC parking tickets, especially in just one or two local suburbs. Plus, is the CODC mayor losing his battle to convince Cromwellians to share their local community board's $300 million land wealth with their neighbours in Alexandra?

Respected hotel and hospitality operator Mark Rose calls in the latest Crux podcast for a change in community leadership and for our local council to open their books in the face of planned $1 billion debt - a level he calls "a frightening number."

"If there's serious financial problems then we need to discover those now and get them fixed" Mark Rose told Crux Managing Editor Peter Newport.

Mr Rose started his career as an international chef and then moved on to luxury hotel management, making a success of the five star Rees hotel in Queenstown from the depths of the global financial crisis. 

"The fabric of our community is at risk" Mr Rose told Crux, speaking of the community's inability to house and sustain key hospitality staff on $70,000 a year. "It's simply not enough to live on at the moment keeping in mind the cost and availability of local housing."

Mr Rose also speaks in detail about the need for younger, fresher community leaders and elected councillors. He notes in particular what he sees as the lack of leadership from the current council and decisions being made behind closed doors.

Referring to the council's $100 million spend on the luxury Lakeview apartment project, with little evident prospect for future profits, Mr Rose told Crux "if it's such a great deal, show us the books."

"Good leadership is about taking people along with you. I'm just not seeing that from the current council and it worries me greatly."