Source Tangi Utikere, MP for Palmerston North. 25 June at 13:01 via Facebook
Today the Government tried to stop me talking about a local example 🚌 of the Government attempting to get councils to pick up the tab for services that have previously been Government funded 👇 but I will not be silenced when raising issues important to my community.
Recently the Ministry of Education requested that Horizons Regional Council provide funding through its 2025-26 Annual Plan for additional public transport bus services for school students travelling between Ashhurst and Palmerston North.
This would mean public transport would be an option for students to travel to school if proposed Ministry of Education changes to school bus routes in Manawatū go ahead, resulting in the cancellation of school buses from communities like Ashhurst and Rongotea into Palmerston North.
Horizons has resolved not to provide funding for these buses as requested, which would have moved the cost of school transport in Manawatū entirely on to rate payers. I congratulate Horizons for taking this stand.
This is a clear example of the Government trying to force additional costs onto councils, without providing any funding. Councils should not have to, or be expected to, pick up the tab for things the Government decides it doesn’t want to fund.
