Rural Vote Debate on Q&A: Substance or Just Platitudes?
It was billed as a chance for all the political parties to woo the rural vote, but question marks hang over just how effective this was.
Keith Holmes, who stepped down as Feds Waikato president earlier this year, and Cambridge branch chair Garry Reymer were confirmed as candidates when nominations closed earlier this month.
Holmes is one of five candidates for the two seats in Waihou Ward. Reymer is one of four candidates for two seats in Waipa-King Country ward.
Holmes told Dairy News that local government "certainly isn't sexy but has a massive impact on our lives and also the culture that we live under".
"Having spent a lifetime wearing many different leadership hats, both inside and outside of the Waikato Regional Council, I know the people, I know the systems and know the strengths and weaknesses within the culture of WRC.
"I have a choice - I can sit on a couch and continue to 'whinge and bitch' about the regional council - or I can get inside the 'tent' or the glass castle and make a difference.
"The latter I back myself on, having a long history of leadership and governance, and having recently stepped down from president of Waikato Province of Federated Farmers, I have the time."
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Holmes supports the Government's reforms of the Resource Management Act (RMA) and local government.
"It's massive in its implications and is going to happen regardless of which and what government is in power. I make no apology in saying that it must change, both systems are broken, are linked together and are currently killing our proud Kiwi can-do attitude and culture."
Holmes adds that councils by nature are risk averse and they simply put up the rates should the cost of business become too high.
"Sadly, too, the governance directive to drive accountability are either too weak, ineffectual or simply don't exist at all. The councils too have a conundrum in that successive governments cunningly unload responsibilities, without funding, so as protecting their political credence by not raising taxes.
"Simply changing the rules of RMA and the shape of local government won't work. We must change the culture within," says Holmes.
Holmes recently sold his dairy farm but still farms at Waihou, running rare ewes and fattening steers.
Reymer, who milks 520 cows on two farms, has been part of Waikato Federated Farmers meeting with WRC over the years.
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Garry Reymer |
He says it became very apparent there that the council needed a stronger focus on getting back to basics as well as making sure it understood where and how the money was being spent.
"There apears to be a lack of respect for the rate take and councillors happy to sit on surpluses for a rainy day, rahter than help a stretched ratepayer," Reymer told Dairy News.
Reymer opposes growth in staff numbers and says the council management should be held to account for the rising workforce and salary bill.
Public transport is another area that needs a major rethink, Reymer believes.
"If you think our education system was due for an overhaul, you would have been right, but we have been running the same old 30-seat diesel buses forever. We need to be smarter on how this is delivered, and the answer is not just slap on an electric bus."
He backs proposals by central government to rein in "out of control councils".
"I agree and think it is important that we have strong voices on the inside to help drive the change and ensure we put the right people and structures in place to take our regions forward. There will be a lot of resistance from staff and even from councillors. Turkeys don't vote for Christmas."
