Post AyDDDfJ9HxLua7izrc by Salty@mastodon.nz
(DIR) More posts by Salty@mastodon.nz
(DIR) Post #AyD7xX81Qs58oF0bHU by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-09-14T22:29:12Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
One of the biggest problems with local government in Aotearoa is that central government have devolved a whole lot of responsibilities to them, without passing on sufficient funding to fulfill them. So they either need to hike rates, increase council debt, or both.A lot of this is effectively creative accounting by governments. Moving public spending and debt onto someone else's balance sheet, so their own books look healthier come election time.(1/?)#NZPolitics #LocalGovernment
(DIR) Post #AyD93C5EgpRtEOy6qm by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-09-14T22:40:44Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
I have a few ideas for how we might fix this;* half of all tax taken should be passed on to local government. Based on the residential address each taxpayer has on file at IRD* half of all rates taken should be passed on to central govt* devolve as many govt functions as possible to local bodies. Especially things like running schools, hospitals and other public medical services, Kāinga Ora housing, etc.Give local people the responsibility *and* the necessary resources.(2/?)#PolicyNZ
(DIR) Post #AyD945JJMCO6VyycvQ by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-09-14T22:40:34Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
I have a few ideas for how we might fix this;* half of all tax taken should be passed on to local government. Based on the residential address each taxpayer has on file at IRD* half of all rates taken should be passed on to central govt* devolve as many govt functions as possible to local bodies. Especially things like running schools, hospitals and other public medical services, Kāinga Ora housing, etc.Give local people the responsibility *and* the necessary resources.(2/?)#PolicyNZ
(DIR) Post #AyD9HDD5IX4UmOK9EO by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-09-14T22:43:58Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
So whatever tax I pay - including rates as a land tax - is shared 50/50 between central and local government. Local govt no longer need to hike rates or cut spending to keep debt down, and have much less incentive to do so.The people making decisions about the provision of public services are right there in the area, where local people can hold them accountable for how those services are run. Which creates a stronger incentive to participate in local body elections.(3/3)
(DIR) Post #AyD9sDqlsfs7TmXEZs by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-09-14T22:50:39Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
In my ideal Aotearoa we'd go much further, replacing the Westminster system of government with a federal model. Where local bodies are sovereign, and delegate responsibilities - for things like foreign affairs and defence - to central bodies. Rather than vice-versa.As I understand it, this was how pre-colonisation Māori politics worked. Hapū were sovereign, and iwi were federations, which coordinated things like diplomatic relations and trade with hapū who were members of other iwi.(4/4)
(DIR) Post #AyDDDfJ9HxLua7izrc by Salty@mastodon.nz
2025-09-14T23:28:05Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey Yeah I was talking to my wife about that this morning after the RNZ alert about Luxon's $40M star concert scheme announcement. Mayor Brown must be pounding his head on the desk this morning being declined the ability to levy a small bed tax that would have generated about that much money to fund major events just for Auckland alone.Localism wherever the locals agree with Luxon. Centralism wherever they don't.
(DIR) Post #AyDINovkrlA75nRbGq by TimWardCam@c.im
2025-09-14T22:32:04Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey Same in the UK - been going on for decades.
(DIR) Post #AyFCCvVzpkugv5joGG by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-09-15T22:26:14Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@TimWardCam> Same in the UK - been going on for decadesWhat's your take on devolution of powers to national assemblies in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales? I've generally seen this as positive step towards decentralisation of governance. But I guess it could also be a way to pass down responsibilities without passing down resources.
(DIR) Post #AyFOQxBnbY99cHkIjo by TimWardCam@c.im
2025-09-15T22:41:10Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey Sorry, I don't know enough about the national assemblies to comment.I do know that "devolution" when used in the context of English local authorities actually means "centralisation". The spin is that central government devolves *powers* to bodies or "mayors" representing larger areas than existing councils ... but the money they spend tends to come from funds that would otherwise have gone to the smaller councils, thus in practice the money, and therefore the power, is being centralised not devolved.
(DIR) Post #AyFRW1yHYJc9l3XHwe by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2025-09-16T01:17:44Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@TimWardCam > in practice the money, and therefore the power, is being centralised not devolvedThat pretty much answers my question. Sounds similar to the "super city" model pushed by the hard right for local government here.