trouble in the suburbs

I've always regarded Howick and Pakuranga as oddities compared to the rest of Manakau city, given its relative wealth and different ethnic mix. City councilor for Howick Sharon Stewart seems to think so too, along with many of her constituents, pushing for transparency around the rate take from each ward. With the council instituting confusing and bizarre changes to it's revenue gathering, as well as proposing an increase, the citizen's in the east are feeling that they're unfairly propping up other areas of the city community.

They may well be paying more, but any rates breakdown is meaningless without comparison to ward spending breakdowns and civic infrastructure spending figures. Cr Stewart and her supporters on the council need to tread carefully in this area, especially given the Councils desire to boost revenue. City rates must be uniformly applied to all wards, even if some areas pay proportionally more than others for the benefit of all. Equally the city's bureaucracy has to make sure any planned increases are done with full consultation, and without dramatic changes to individual ratepayers.