Posted on 17-4-2003
Not
Quite AK47, AK03
Meeting 7.30-9.30pm Tuesday 29 April 2003 in the Lynfield Rm
at the
Fickling Centre, cnr Mt Albert and Mt Eden Rd, Three Kings.
Background:
J Wightman of Epsom set the ball rolling a few weeks ago with
his letter to
the NZ Herald:
" I read with mounting frustration that our council intends
to put up rates
again, this time by 9%- despite their pre-election promises
- and give
themselves a hefty pay rise into the bargain. I know Aucklanders
have a
reputation for being apathetic about local government matters,
but surely
we can't let that go ahead without some sort of protest. At
this stage a
letter to the editor is the best I can do, but I look forward
to hearing
news of more effective protests.
Tim Brubaker from Central Auckland elaborated on the point and
called for a
partial rate strike:
" I don't know why supposedly democratic political parties worldwide
feel
that written and verbal election promises are not contractually
binding.
Case in point: if John Banks was elected because of a pledge
to freeze
rates, then that, in my mind, is the true legislation. Either
we have a
democracy or we have arbitrary rulers, and we would do well
to dispense
with our pathetic doublethink and regain a spirit of vigilance
towards our
freedom.
Banks is not king of Auckland, and neither are the city councillors
dukes
and princes. They are representatives of the people of Auckland.
I would encourage households to simply continue paying the rates
effective
on the date of John Banks' election, until his term of office
is over. If
he complains, demand another election. If you never hold your
leaders
accountable, the democracy quickly slips away."
Replies to a call by the East and Bays Courier for feedback
on the idea of
a rates revolt has resulted in many calls from people in their
90', others
on low or fixed incomes who are worried about their ability
to remain in
their homes once they are faced with rate rises of up to 20%
which will be
on top on top of rate increases caused by revaluations as high
as
30%. (Remember the ACRN promised that the total rate take would
only rise
by changes in valuation or by increase in the number of rateable
properties
(ie when more houses get built).
What Next? Proposals for Action !
The general feeling behind the views so far can be summed up
as follows:
1.
John Banks and the ACRN lied to the public before they were
elected in 2001
about their intention to freeze rates. Since then they have
been actively
assisted to break their promises by the votes of Geoff Abbott
and Bill
Christian who represent Tamaki Maungakiekie.
2.
Since the election, these lies, and their combined track record
of blatant
disregard for the expressed views of a wide cross section of
people and
communities and profligate spending, has resulted in a widespread
loss of
confidence, trust and respect in their ability to act fairly
on our behalf.
3.
We need to act to hold these politicians to their word. If they
are not
prepared to keep their promises they should resign and put their
new Bill
Birch inspired programme to the vote.
4.
As a means of demonstrating our shared intent to hold them accountable,
there appears to be widespread support for the a proposal that
we refuse to
accept any more rate increases until such time as a new fair
and equitable
rating system is agreed on by a majority of voters in an election
or a
referendum.
5.
This refusal may take one of several forms including:
* Paying the rates effective on the date of John Banks' and
the ACRN's
election in October 2001.
* Paying only the rates effective at the time of the recent
(massive)
property revaluations and refusing to pay the additional taxes
on waste,
footpaths,
* For those paying by instalments, withholding one or more payments
from
September onwards, until such time as a new fair and equitable
system is
agreed to.
6. Participation in this action would be purely voluntary, however
for
those who do withhold payments, full and active support will
be given to
any attempts by Council to coerce anyone to pay or to punish
those who
refuse to pay.
These ideas will be discussed at the meeting on
When: Tuesday, 29 April Time: 7.30pm Where: Fickling Centre
Main Hall,
Three Kings. If the proposals receive support from the meeting,
the next
step will be for people from the same areas to get together
to organise
further similar meetings in their home communities.
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