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Motueka 'not getting a fair shake': Alastair Paulin

April 15th, 2014
[by David Armstrong]

Tasman Leader editor Alastair Paulin believes Motueka "is not getting a fair shake from the Tasman District Council" and that "having staff based in Richmond leads to a form of bias".

In a blunt opinion piece in his regular Nelson Mail column this week Alastair expresses real concern that unless Motueka ratepayers wake up, the town will "wither".

"Motueka ratepayers need to understand that a dollar saved in Motueka is not a dollar less of rates: it is a dollar more to spend elsewhere in the district," he wrote.

"They also need to understand that without a strong vision for the town's future and effective advocates for it, the town will wither."

Alastair's strong words come on the back of a TDC draft annual plan in which the Council propose scrapping any hopes of a new library (about which he is particularly scathing) and strengthening of the river stopbanks.

Saying he is "thrilled to see Richmond moving ahead", also "concerned that no-one is fighting for the town's interests around the council table".

"I'm concerned that no-one is fighting for the town's interests around the council table. Our councillors don't seem to be advocates for Motueka and I don't hear their dissenting voices when yet another Motueka project gets canned.

"I look at the success of a councillor like Brian Ensor at getting things done for Mapua - including a proposed council-built $1.2 million retail building on the former aquarium site - and conclude that the council will continue to make strategic investments in the district's future. Just not in Motueka."

Read Alastair's full article here

 



Comment by Pauline Westall:
[Posted 22 April 2014]

I couldn't agree more with Alistair. I have felt, and said, for a long time that Motueka and Golden Bay are always the ones to miss out in the TDC's annual plan. When cost cutting measures are needed we are the ones who get hit, very rarely does Richmond.

To me Richmond is akin to Auckland - they want and they get, anyone outside the main area can go without. Look at our swimming pool that we wanted - oh no can't afford that, so next thing you know Richmond has one (they could afford that!!), need one say more?



Comment by William Cleaver:
[Posted 27 April 2014]

Since arriving back into the area in 2007 after a 25 year absence nothing has changed. Motueka always played second fiddle to Richmond. I have been on the bandwagon since 2008 after starting my own locally based business, that locals should support local. Every dollar spent outside the district 9 out of 10 times never comes back.

But waitm I hear you say Motueka has a booming tourist business, money from afar comes into the town and surrounding areas over the summer months. True, but how do we cater for this influx of funds? We buy outside our own district and prop up Richmond and Nelson.

Here are a couple of examples. Personally we have a coffee roastery yet 99% comes OUT OF DISTRICT. Vegetables from supermarkets come from OUT OF TOWN. Local Brewery, most fruit, advertising, clothing, the list goes on.

We the manufacturers in this town have spent our hard earned dollars wanting to live here and support the local economy. Yet we are not supported. How many more local businesses need to close before the town and the councilors realize? As for our community board where have they been? Since being voted in I haven't heard nor seen any of them.



Comment by Jim Butler:
[Posted 27 April 2014]

It was certainly an excellent article by Alastair Paulin, but he could have gone further. Why are there always empty shops in the Motueka High St, particularly in the wintertime? Because the rents are so high. Why are the rents so high? Because the rates are so high?

Where does all this rates money go? Much of it to pay the wages of staff based in the Richmond Office, where 20 of them have salaries of over $100,000 and another 35 with salaries between $80,000 and $100,000. Where do these 55 highly paid staff spend their money? Mostly in the Richmond area. So Motueka High St businesses are paying out good money that is spent, not in Motueka, but in businesses in the Richmond area.



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