Audit NZ and OAG clean bill of health —Suspicious!

Received from Martin Legge
Saturday, 29 June 2013 9:53 a.m.

Learn how the Kaipara council was repeatedly given a clean bill of health by Audit NZ despite the massive debt and obvious governance problems.

Compares with how OAG assured me they were closely monitoring the TTCF investigation into how it was that ORFU and Racing were able to fleece $7 million from the South Auckland community. The truth is, DIA lost that file and therefore didn’t investigate and instead deliberately covered the loss up. OAG appear OK with this and issued DIA with a clean bill of health.

Our trust and faith in the work of these well resourced “highly educated desk jockeys” is misplaced!!!

—

### NZ Herald Online Saturday, 29 Jun 2013 8:48 AM
Fresh probe begins into debt-ridden council
By Andrew Laxon
The commissioners of debt-ridden Kaipara District Council have begun a new inquiry into its past financial decisions, including the advice it received from former chief executive Jack McKerchar. The tiny Northland council is struggling under an $80 million debt, a long-running rates strike and court action by its own ratepayers over more than $17 million of illegally set rates dating back to 2006. Its former councillors stepped down last year in response to a damning report, making way for Government-appointed commissioners.

Three inquiries are under way into what went wrong. They consist of

● An Auditor-General’s investigation into how the cost of a sewerage scheme at Mangawhai blew out from $11 million in 1999 to $62 million, creating most of the council’s debt.
● An independent inquiry into how the Audit Office failed to notice the excessive debt and repeatedly gave the council a clean bill of health.
● The commissioners’ investigation into other financial transactions they have discovered since taking over last September and see as questionable.

Northland MP Mike Sabin told Parliament ratepayers had been woefully let down by the council’s “mismanagement, incompetence, carelessness and dysfunctional governance”. Mr Sabin, who is sponsoring a local bill to retrospectively validate the illegal rates, said the bill was necessary to keep the council functioning but it would not allow anyone responsible for poor decisions to duck the consequences.
The separate inquiry into the Audit Office’s actions, undertaken by Auditing and Assurance Standards Board chairman Neil Cherry, was not finished.
Read more

—

Related Posts and Comments:
21.4.13 Councils “in stchook” —finance & policy analyst Larry.N.Mitchell
31.3.13 DIA and OAG stuff up bigtime #pokierorts
21.2.13 DIA, SFO investigation #pokierorts
3.11.12 Stadium: DCC caught in headlights
29.10.12 DCC consolidated debt substantially more than $616m
21.2.12 Kaipara this time

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

State of the City —DCC or Dunedin?

ODT LATEST
Carisbrook sold, down by Christmas
Calder Stewart has been confirmed as the new owner of Carisbrook, with a condition of the sale being its demolition by Christmas. Council Chief Executive Paul Orders today confirmed the purchase had been finalised, saying: “It is pleasing the due diligence process has been completed and that the sale has been confirmed.”
In a variation to the original agreement, the historic brick turnstiles, plus 400m2, have been given back to the DCC at no cost, apart from minimal shared surveying costs. This recognises the New Zealand Historic Places Trust classification of the turnstiles and creates the potential for a ‘pocket park’ to be formed.
Calder Stewart will pay $3.5 million for Carisbrook, with $200,000 to be refunded by the DCC as long as all the buildings, apart from the hospitality complex, are demolished within six months.
Read more

—

DCC Media Release
Now that the transaction has been completed, a large number of documents relating to both the original purchase and subsequent sale of Carisbrook, will be released publicly later next week on the DCC website.

### ch9.co.nz June 27, 2013 – 6:40pm
Residents to give view on state of city
Dunedin residents are about to be called on to give their views on the state of the city. Video

### ch9.co.nz June 27, 2013 – 6:33pm
First stage of public process begins
The first stage of a public process to develop an Energy Plan for the city began last night. Video

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Images: (top) Dunedin Jan-03 flyinn.co.nz (bottom) mastermaintenance.co.nz

Hotel/Apartment Tower decision to be appealed

Updated 2.7.13

Tweet:

peter mcintyre @macthebroker
Hotel decision to be appealed | Otago Daily Times Online News : Zealand & International News shar.es/x85Pq via @ShareThis

5:11pm · 25 Jun 13 · Tweet Button

****

### RNZ News Updated 24 minutes ago
Dunedin hotel plan heading to court
The developer planning a 27-storey waterfront hotel in Dunedin is taking its case to court. A Dunedin City Council panel declined resource consents for the $100 million project three weeks ago, saying it failed a key legal test and the glass tower would be too high for its industrial-zoned site. The five-star hotel and apartment complex has been hotly debated since being announced a year ago. On Tuesday afternoon, the company behind the project Betterways Advisory Limited, announced it will be appealing to the Environment Court against the council’s decision. The appeal will mean the court will attempt to broker a compromise between the developer, the council and any of the public submitters who want to get involved.
However, it seems likely that the court will have to hold its own full hearing into the project, probably early in 2014.
RNZ Link

****

We really love Jing Song, Steve Rodgers, and their gift that keeps on giving. FO.
A source reveals Betterways’ appeal cites Consultancy House as a precedent. Interesting, the owners of Consultancy House strongly objected to the application in their submissions.

Related Posts and Comments:
18.6.13 Hotel: COC’s greasy spoon race. Ugh!
5.6.13 Hotel decision . . . (the vacuum)

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

[screenshot]

DCC Annual Plan 2013/14

DCC IS PULLING THE WOOL OVER YOUR EYES, DUNEDIN

### ODT Online Tue, 25 Jun 2013
Rates rise of 4% adopted; staff efforts praised
By Chris Morris
There were words of praise, but also of caution, as the Dunedin City Council yesterday locked in a 4% rates rise for the coming financial year. Councillors at yesterday’s full council meeting voted to adopt the 2013-14 annual plan, and the 4% rates rise, after months of discussion, debate and public consultation. The changes would come into force on July 1, but prompted little further debate yesterday, as councillors instead praised chief executive Paul Orders and his staff for their efforts.

Confirmation of the budget meant a $400,000-a-year events attraction fund for Dunedin Venues Management Ltd, the company running Forsyth Barr Stadium, and other budget proposals were confirmed.

Finance, strategy and development committee chairman Cr Syd Brown said the increase included headroom within the budget. That had allowed debt repayments to be accelerated, saving the council millions in interest payments, while keeping the rates increase within the goal of no more than 4%. Without the debt repayments, the increase would have been closer to 2%, Cr Brown said. ”I think that’s a sterling effort by the chief executive and his staff and I think the city’s been well served,” he said.
Read more

—

What is Cr Syd Brown really saying?

Is he saying the stadium debt, the council’s consolidated debt, the council’s lack of insurance for infrastructure, the seedy DCHL’s lack of traction, and DVL/DVML running significant losses requiring ‘unheard of’ ratepayer funds, is Okay and everything’s well in hand?

Or is he snide, skipping out of council before the engulfing mudslide hits, the one he’s made with help from the Good Old Boys.

Nothing like an old fox, or an old fool.
Syd Brown’s personal fortunes have been tidily aided by his position on council for the implementation of Taieri plan changes, council spending on ‘localised’ drainage, roading systems, and more. Then there are the persistent rumours about connections to pokie trusts and big brothers in racing and rugby. It’s not a clean slate.

Can you believe anything Syd Brown has to say about your council’s financial position? DCHL will soon report to councillors on the results of a review of its subsidiary companies. This will be interesting. Cr Richard Thomson opines that from the figures it appears the only way DCHL can meet its dividend payment forecasts will be by borrowing or selling assets, either of which would cause ”considerable concern”.

—

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 4.7 MB)
Dunedin City Council, 2013/14 Annual Plan for Adoption on 24 June 2013

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 72.5 KB)
Adoption of the Annual Plan 2013/14

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 703.3 KB)
Setting of Rates for 2013/14 Financial Year

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 26.6 KB)
Statements of Intent of DCHL Group Companies

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 306.1 KB)
Statement of Intent – Dunedin City Holdings Ltd

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 284.2 KB)
Statement of Intent – Aurora Energy Limited

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 251.0 KB)
Statement of Intent – Delta Utility Services Ltd

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 375.1 KB)
Statement of Intent – City Forests Ltd

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 351.4 KB)
Statement of Intent – Dunedin City Treasury Ltd

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 440.3 KB)
Statement of Intent – Taieri Gorge Railway Ltd

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 241.9 KB)
Statement of Intent – Dunedin International Airport Ltd

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 218.0 KB)
Statement of Intent – Dunedin Venues Limited

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 235.4 KB)
Statement of Intent – Dunedin Venues Management Ltd

Report – Council – 24/06/2013 (PDF, 728.7 KB)
Statement of Intent – Tourism Dunedin

Other reports tabled at yesterday’s meeting of the Dunedin City Council.

Related Post and Comments:
22.1.13 DCC Draft Annual Plan 2013/14 – ‘Liability Cull’ and council chasten for election year

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC Community Boards

MOSGIEL-TAIERI COMMUNITY BOARD
Discretionary funds: Conflicts of interest? Accountability? Rort?

”They provided no quotes for what they say they need funding for, and other applications, like the BMX track at Outram, we asked them to go away and come back to us with quotes before we could grant them the funds.”
–Brian Miller

### ODT Online Sun, 23 Jun 2013
Member calls his board a shambles
By Tim Miller – The Star
A member of the Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board says the board is a shambles and has abdicated its responsibilities in giving money to a community group last week. Brian Miller believes the granting of $4500 to the Taieri Community Wellbeing Strategy Group, which aims to promote the Mosgiel and Taieri community, meant the board was handing over its responsibilities to an unelected group. Other community board members spoken to by The Star said the board had done nothing wrong and worked well. Mr Miller said the group would overlap the responsibilities of the board and its funding application did not face the same scrutiny other applications did.

”This would be the worst board I have been on. It’s a shambles.” The group had an unfair advantage because chairman Bill Feather and board member Teresa Christie had been working with it behind the scenes, Mr Miller said.

Board member Martin Dillon also voted against the funding. Mr Dillon said he had issues with the way the funding application had been made, but had no problems with Mr Feather and Mrs Christie being part of the group asking for funding.
Read more

*Teresa Christie is the wife of Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin’s former Chief Post Office

—

### ODT Online Sat, 22 Jun 2013
Post office conversion ready to go
By Hamish McNeilly
A multimillion-dollar project to transform the former Dunedin chief post office has been delivered. Work on converting the 10-storey heritage building into a 120-apartment hotel and office space for Silver Fern Farms and other commercial tenants could begin within weeks.

Building owner Geoff Thomson, of Distinction Hotels, told the Otago Daily Times: “I just love the building and it was just about trying to find a way to make it stack up.”

Arrow International would spearhead the fit-out of the office space and hotel and the construction of a multilevel car park at the rear of the building. The four-star plus Distinction Dunedin hotel project would cost more than $15 million, but those involved with the project declined to confirm a figure.
However, the anchor tenancy of Silver Fern Farms, which would occupy the first two floors, and unnamed commercial tenants the third floor, would help to “underpin the building”, Mr Thomson said.
The commercial floors would be fitted out by the end of the year. Construction of a three-storey car park on its Bond St car park at the rear of the building would also be done by then. Designs had yet to be finalised for the remaining seven floors of the hotel apartments.
Read more

[history and significance]
█ Heritage New Zealand (HNZ) registration report: List No. 2145 (Category II)

—

Related Posts and Comments:
16.3.10 Public meeting: planning the future of Dunedin heritage buildings [updates on SFF]
2.7.12 Demolition by neglect. Townscape precincts.
6.12.11 Distinction Hotels: more work on former Chief Post Office
5.3.11 Former Chief Post Office, Dunedin – magazine feature . . .
14.8.10 No surprises with former CPO redevelopment
27.5.10 Distinction Dunedin: former chief post office
12.5.10 DScene – Geoff Thomson buys back former CPO
11.5.10 DCC Media Release – Chief Post Office
10.11.09 Dunedin public library services
23.10.09 Weekend ODT looks at The Exchange
3.9.09 Dunedin Public Library feasibility
26.8.09 DScene: Delta, STS, DCC larks
20.7.09 DCC + former CPO + others(??) = a public library (yeah right)

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Images: (from top) topnews.net.nz – Dunedin Chief Post Office, 283 Princes Street, Dunedin; distinctionhotels.co.nz – thumbnail; rootsweb.ancestry.com – 1930s b/w

Stadium: DVML, DVL miserable losers! #grandtheftdebt

### ch9.co.nz June 20, 2013 – 6:18pm
DVML forecasts small profit
The company that runs Forsyth Barr Stadium has forecast a small surplus for the first time in 2015. DVML has been running at a loss, but forecasts that will change to a $10,000 surplus. But the company that owns the stadium, DVL, has forecast its loss will be about $1 million more than expected, at more than $5 million. DCC chief executive Paul Orders said both were just projections, and the DVL loss was due to tax changes. The forecasts will be considered by the council on Monday.
Ch39 Link [no video available]

SURPRISE
Reports for the Council meeting to be held on Monday 24 June 2013 at 1pm not yet available at the DCC website.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

SFO investigates Taupo District Council

### stuff.co.nz Last updated 16:49 17/06/2013
SFO investigates Taupo District Council
By Mike Watson – Waikato Times
The Serious Fraud Office has launched an investigation into alleged fraud at the Taupo District Council but would not reveal the reason for the inquiry. SFO acting chief executive Simon McArley today confirmed the agency was investigating the council after a complaint had been lodged.
“We have received complaints in matters relating to Taupo District Council,” Mr McArley said. “The SFO is continuing its investigation of those matters but is unable to provide any further detail in relation to them at this time.”
Stuff Link

****

### rotoruadailypost.co.nz 18 Jun 2013 11:45 AM Updated: 1:25 PM
Update: SFO investigating Taupo District Council
By Laurilee McMichael
Taupo Mayor Rick Cooper says he’s aghast, shattered and stunned at news the Taupo District Council is being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office. Mr Cooper said he doesn’t know what the alleged fraud is in relation to or who it involves but said it’s definitely not him. However he’s challenging whoever made the complaint or complaints to “put up or shut up” and notes that there is a local government election in October. He believes there’s a vendetta against the council and that people are trying to manipulate public opinion.

Mr Cooper and the Taupo district councillors were informed last week the SFO had launched an investigation but were given no more detail.

The SFO focuses on serious or complex fraud in which there are multiple victims, the sum of money lost exceeds $2 million, or has significant legal or financial complexity beyond the resources of most other law enforcement agencies. Its brief includes bribery and corruption crimes involving public officials.
Read more

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Bobbling off . . . #Democracy #Dunedin #Stadium

### NZ Herald 5:30 AM Tuesday Jun 18, 2013
Bob Jones: It’s vote-and-hope for competence at top
By Bob Jones
OPINION There was a time when the mayoralty of our major cities commanded considerable prestige as a cap on a successful professional or commercial career. History reveals many important mayors of an earlier age. Sadly no longer. Instead, everywhere there are mayors and councillors devoid of even the faintest credentials for any public office. Indeed, some have never had a job, suggesting they’re financially motivated. Given perks such as the sister cities silliness and ratepayer-funded jaunts to them, free cars, telephones, etc, being mayor is quite appealing for the unaccomplished.

Dunedin is unique as it’s been well served by competent mayors, evidenced by the last half dozen being repeatedly re-elected, in most cases for three terms, before retiring.

I suspect voters are conscious of that as I’ve observed how they repeatedly backlash against the most heavily advertised mayoral candidates, as if suspicious of such hunger for the office. We can only speculate why obvious potential candidates now shy away, but cannot condemn those who do stand, humdrum though they may be. Someone must or we’ll have no democracy.
Read more

—

Meanwhile at ODT Online:

“Mr Cull has allowed himself to be captured by the town hall bureaucrats and the self-interest groups in exactly the same way as his predecessors. The Sir Humphreys of this world are clearly alive and well at the Civic Centre.” —Moore1967

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Hotel: COC’s greasy spoon race. Ugh!

### ODT Online Tue, 18 Jun 2013
Hotel supporters still in discussions
By Chris Morris
Alternatives to a $100 million waterfront hotel in Dunedin are still being discussed as the clock ticks towards a decision deadline. However, exactly what the hotel developers’ next move will be remains a closely guarded secret after they were refused resource consent earlier this month.

Betterways Advisory Ltd has until June 26 to decide whether to appeal the decision of the Dunedin City Council’s hearings committee to decline consent for the hotel at 41 Wharf St.

Betterways director Steve Rodgers – the man fronting the hotel bid – did not want to comment on any aspect of the hotel bid yesterday, saying only the full time allowed to decide any appeal would be needed. However, the Otago Daily Times understands several property owners have come forward with alternative sites capable of accommodating a hotel, and that parties were busy behind the scenes. That included the Otago Chamber of Commerce, which had indicated earlier this month it was talking to Betterways to try and rescue the situation.
Read more

*[Otago] Chamber of Commerce, affectionately known as “COC”.

—

Related Post and Comments:
5.6.13 Hotel decision . . . (the vacuum)

For more, enter *hotel* in the search box at right.

—

Posted By Elizabeth Kerr

Fairfax NZ News at Dunedin

Following the closure of DScene, Fairfax Media has confirmed the establishment of a Fairfax NZ News bureau position in Dunedin.

Former DScene reporter Wilma McCorkindale has been appointed to the role and has already begun filing Otago stories to the Stuff website and national newspapers.

McCorkindale can be contacted on 027 667 7912
Email: wilma dot mccorkindale at fairfaxmedia dot co dot nz

—

Related Post and Comments:
10.5.13 DScene, staying power . . .

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin housing: building up or Brown-like sprawl #intensification #costlyinfrastructure

There was a risk that Government intervention could actually drive up house prices in Dunedin.

### ODT Online Wed, 12 Jun 2013
DCC seeks changes to housing Bill
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council could be forced to open up land for development – sidestepping long-term council planning in the process – as part of a Government push to bring down house prices. The concern was raised at yesterday’s planning and environment committee meeting, as Dunedin city councillors discussed a council submission on the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill. The Bill, which is before a parliamentary select committee, would allow the Government to create ”special housing areas” in parts of New Zealand deemed to have significant housing affordability problems. Councils would be able to enter into accords with the Government to create the new zones but, if they resisted, the Bill would give the Government the power to force the creation of the new areas.

The council had been given just 10 working days from May 16 to respond, which was “completely insufficient” to allow councils and the public to assess and provide detailed feedback on the Bill, it said. ”In our view, these consultation time frames raise serious concerns about the democratic nature of our legislative process and New Zealand’s system of representative government.”

And, while the Bill appeared aimed primarily at Auckland, Dunedin could also qualify for one of the new housing areas, city councillors were warned. Dunedin could be deemed in need of a special housing area, based on criteria proposed under the Bill, council city strategy and development general manager Sue Bidrose told the meeting. That was largely because of the high population of students and the elderly, whose economic circumstances skewed the city’s housing affordability results, the council’s submission said.
Read more

—

Related Posts and Comments:
2.4.13 Dunedin: Developers stoop to resource consents…
29.3.13 Reykjavik, Iceland: The strongest mirror [speculative apartments]
3.3.13 RNZ Sunday Morning | Ideas: Re-imagining the Urban House
29.10.12 Govt to open up more land for houses
29.8.12 Beloved Prime Minister ‘Jonkey’ speaking #childpoverty
14.4.12 How perverse is the New Zealand housing market?
17.2.12 Salvation Army: The Growing Divide
2.2.10 “Tax codes, zoning, community boards, and financing…”
8.12.11 interest.co heats NZ housing debate – listen up
23.11.11 Last night, did John Key watch Inside New Zealand (TV3)…
26.10.11 2011 Voices of Poverty: Research into poverty in Dunedin
26.12.10 New Zealand housing, a sorry tale

—

In early 1937 the government provided new loan money for councils to build new dwellings to help meet a chronic housing shortage. The aim was to provide an affordable alternative to the government’s state-rental scheme. Dunedin was among the councils that took advantage of the measure, building hundreds of dwellings for private sale in suburban Clyde Hill. The first three houses were opened by Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage in September 1937.
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/document/32437/dunedin-houses-opened

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: Dunedin housing (detail) [ODT files]

Stadium: Insurmountable debt but gosh, look at our numbers!

Stadium numbers (via ODT):
• 605,000 ticketed fans since opening day in 2011
• 158,000 so far this year
• Up from 136,000 same period last year (16.2% increase)
• 80% rugby crowd last year
• 45% this year

### ODT Online Sat, 8 Jun 2013
Stadium numbers up and diversifying
By Chris Morris
The Forsyth Barr Stadium crowd is diversifying, but the punters still love their beer and chips, the company running the venue says. Figures released by Dunedin Venues Management Ltd yesterday showed 605,000 fans have now paid to attend a ticketed event at the stadium since opening day in 2011. That included 158,000 fans in the first five months of this year, which was up on last year, when 136,000 paid to enter during the corresponding period, DVML chief executive Darren Burden confirmed. The venue’s reliance on professional rugby was also diminishing, with the proportion of overall attendance linked to rugby games during the five-month period dropping from 80% last year to 45% this year.
Read more

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC electoral candidates 2013

Update 16.8.13
The full nominations list is published today at
DCC nominations —All the mops, brooms and feather dusters

So far . . .
14.8.13 Mayoral candidates expand to five
14.8.13 Cr Bill Acklin (stadium supporter) not standing
10.8.13 DCC nominations on a par with 2010
19.6.13 Cr Syd Brown, FSD Chairman (stadium supporter) leaving council
8.6.13 Electoral challenge to Brown intensifies

—

Mayoral candidates confirmed:
Hilary Calvert (independent), Mayor Dave Cull (Greater Dunedin), Kevin Dwyer (independent), Aaron Hawkins (Green Party), Andrew Whiley (independent)

Mayoral nominations not received:
Olivier Lequeux (independent), Cr Lee Vandervis (independent)

—

Central Ward candidates confirmed:
David Benson-Pope (independent), Cr John Bezett (independent), Hilary Calvert (independent), Ali Copeman (Greater Dunedin), Kevin Dwyer (independent), Pete George (indendent), Aaron Hawkins (Green Party), Francisco Hernandez (independent), Tat Loo (?), Cr Jinty MacTavish (Greater Dunedin), Kevin Neill (?), Neville Peat (independent), Deputy Mayor Chris Staynes (Greater Dunedin), Cr Teresa Stevenson (independent), Cr Richard Thomson (Greater Dunedin), Warren Voight (?), Andrew Whiley (independent)

Mosgiel-Taieri Ward candidates confirmed:
Martin Dillon (independent), Mike Lord (Greater Dunedin), Cr Kate Wilson (Greater Dunedin)

Waikouaiti Coast-Chalmers Ward candidates confirmed:
Cr Andrew Noone (independent)

Stepping down:
Cr Bill Acklin, Cr Syd Brown, Cr Fliss Butcher, Cr Neil Collins, Cr Colin Weatherall

Nominations not received:
Calvin Fisher (union official), Doug Hall (businessman), Cr Paul Hudson (independent), Irene Mosley (Greater Dunedin), Letisha Nicholas (Greater Dunedin), Cr Lee Vandervis (independent)

—

Related Post and Comments:
12.8.13 ELECTION NEWS: Stadium councillors getting the message!
6.8.13 Busted hacks! Media rates Cull and shiny-arsed suit brigade
3.8.13 Nominations, TWO WEEKS to go !!!
24.7.13 DCC / DCHL shake up !!!
17.7.13 Dunedin, ‘small government’ —Calvert
15.7.13 Delta, Carisbrook, Fubar Stadium —Councillors “weak”, or worse
12.7.13 Hudson, DCC (ex DCHL)
22.5.13 Dunedin mayoralty and the Q-town heavies

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Peter Dunne, undone

● The Trusts Charitable Foundation (TTCF Inc) ● The Trusts Community Foundation Ltd (TTCF Ltd) ● Otago Rugby Football Union (ORFU) ● Professional Rugby ● Centre of Excellence for Amateur Sport ● Harness Racing ● Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) ● Gambling Commission ● Pokies ● Rorts ● Organised Crime ● Serious Fraud ● Political Interference

Fairfax Media journalist Andrea Vance broke the story.

### stuff.co.nz June 7 2013, updated 6:25pm
Dunne: I considered leaking, but didn’t
United Future founder resigns as Government Minister after the release of a report into the leaking of a GCSB review.
| Read the leak report | Read the GCSB review | United Future deregistered | Photos | Video

—

### ODT Online Fri, 7 Jun 2013
Dunne resigns as minister
By Claire Trevett – NZ Herald
United Future leader Peter Dunne has resigned as a Minister after he was found to have withheld information from an inquiry into a leak of a GCSB report.
Read more

Mr Key said he had told Mr Dunne he was “very shocked” by the Henry [GCSB] report.

Related Posts and Comments:
11.2.13 Recognising whistleblowers
24.1.13 Pike River, Department of Internal Affairs #skippingthebusiness
30.12.12 Internal Affairs is a whole other planet #whitecollarcrime #DIArorts
18.11.12 Martin Legge: DIA audit criticism #pokierorts #coverup
11.11.12 Department of Internal Affairs #pokierorts #coverup #TTCF
3.10.12 DScene: Russell Garbutt seeks DIA file to Crown Law #pokierorts
15.8.12 Keeping ORFU sweet [email]
29.5.12 Asset sales (remember the days)
19.4.12 Auckland convention centre and 500 new gaming machines, or Hillside?
26.10.11 2011 Voices of Poverty: Research into poverty in Dunedin
5.3.10 Another National bugle boy: Dunne on stadium

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Why should we lift a finger . . .

Not the same finger we lifted to the 27-storey, 96.300m high hotel/apartment building.

### ODT Online Fri, 7 Jun 2013
Editorial: Dunedin’s five-star hotel
The decision to reject the Betterways Advisory bid to build a $100 million waterfront hotel in Dunedin is, on the face of it, not surprising. As the Dunedin City Council hearings committee kept calling for further information, there was a sense within the community the project would fall at the first hurdle.

No city in the country can afford to stand by and let $100 million of private investment disappear.

Dunedin is a heritage city, having escaped the worst of the 1980s excesses of glass towers. That, in fact, proved to be something of a problem for the developers. Hearings committee chairman Colin Weatherall this week correctly said the decision had to be made on facts, not the heart. The city prides itself on its buildings. And tourists come here for many reasons, including the cityscape. So where to from here?
Read more

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Hotel decision . . . (the vacuum)

DECISION OF COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED BY
DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL (4 JUNE 2013)

1
Having carefully considered all the relevant reports and documentation supplied with the application, submissions, and the evidence presented to us during the course of the hearing, we have resolved to refuse the application from Betterways Advisory Limited to construct and operate a licensed hotel with residential apartments at 41 Wharf Street, Dunedin.

2
Since the proposal is a non-complying activity we were required to consider the particular restrictions imposed by s.104D in the Resource Management Act 1991. This requires the proposal to pass at least one of two tests. Having considered these, we were not satisfied that the adverse effects on the environment would be minor (s.104D(1)(a)), and nor were we satisfied that the activities associated with the application would not be contrary to the objectives and policies of the Dunedin City District Plan (s.104D(1)(b)). Having made these determinations, in terms of s.104D, we were unable to grant consent.

3
Throughout Chapter 6 of this decision we considered the environmental effects that were brought to our attention and have drawn our own conclusions as to how each of these issues impacted on this decision. Having done so, we have also undertaken an overall evaluation of the adverse impacts of the proposal in light of the expected positive effects.

4
Having examined the proposal with reference to Part 2 and Section 104 of the Resource Management Act 1991, we have also concluded that the proposal is not consistent with the overriding sustainability purpose of the Act as expressed in s.5(1).

The Hearings Committee of Ministry for the Environment-approved independent Commissioners was comprised of Crs Colin Weatherall (Chair), Andrew Noone and Kate Wilson, and John Lumsden of Christchurch.

Full decision (PDF 1.5 MB, 333 pages)

Stuff at 11:06 06/06/2013

ODT Online 06/06/2013
ODT Online 06/06/2013

RNZ News at 8:45pm 05/06/2013
RNZ Checkpoint 05/06/2013

Ch39 at 6:54pm 05/06/2013 [with video]

RNZ News at 12:24 05/06/2013

Stuff at 12:12 05/06/2013

3News at 10:36 05/06/2013 + Video

ODT Online 05/06/2013 [with video]

TVNZ ONE News at 9:46 05/06/2013 + Video

DCC Media Release 05/06/2013

► Enter *hotel* in the search box at right for more.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

WATERFRONT HOTEL #DUNEDIN

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr