From The Press – Page 2 – Dave Stewart For Council

Opinion: Yes, let’s not forget what councils really do. Becs Mackay

Posted on June 1, 2025June 23, 2025 by Dave Stewart

Let’s demand courage. Vision. Long-term thinking. A mayor and councillors who are eager to work together for all of us — motivated not just by managing the now, but by building a strong foundation for the future. Let’s be honest about the challenges, and clear-eyed about the kind of community we want to be. Let’s vote for leaders who can hold this nuance — honestly, logically, and compassionately. Because ultimately, the four wellbeings weren’t just policy. They were a reminder of what really matters. And whether they stay in law, they must stay in our decisions.

The Observer view: sticking to fiscal rule will imperil Labour’s future

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Dave Stewart

To react to this fiscal crunch by cutting public spending – both capital investment and current – is the wrong approach macroeconomically. It risks making the problem worse: depressing growth further, and reducing tax revenues and hence the resources available to improve public services. The economy will not sufficiently grow while people sit for months on NHS waiting lists unable to work; while children from poorer backgrounds are held back from achieving their full potential at school; and while the housing market is so dysfunctional that lack of affordability prevents people taking up economic opportunities.

There are other options available.

Opinion: The Language of Fear

Posted on May 30, 2025June 23, 2025 by Dave Stewart

Our discussions shouldn’t be about debt, but about what our debt is paying for and who is benefitting from it.

Wai Manuka launches in New York

Posted on May 21, 2025June 23, 2025 by Dave Stewart

May 21 2025 “We shipped over four pallets of Wai Mānuka, which landed two weeks ago, and we’re now in discussions to manufacture and send a full container ahead of the US summer months,” Mr Harawira said. A single container of Wai Mānuka holds more product than the company has sold through New World supermarkets across New Zealand over the past 15 months. “In our original plan, we expected to ship our first container within 12 to 18 months — not as part of our second order,” Mr Harawira said.

Arts and civics, Whakatāne -style

Posted on April 11, 2025June 19, 2025 by Dexter

Apr 11, 2025 Everyone in the world knows Benji Marshall is from here. We own him. Dame Lisa Carrington is our queen. Adored and respected by a whole new generation of would-be gold medal winners on our awa every morning. We have orchestras, brass bands, choirs, poets, dancers, kapa haka and other performing artists of every description who are among the best in the land. Art and recreation have a place in our civics and it’s the job of the council to support this. Critics will argue that we don’t need it, and it doesn’t give anything back. But it’s a fallacy to say that.

Letters: We really do need some good news

Posted on April 9, 2025June 19, 2025 by Dexter

Apr 9, 2025 The rest of the world is getting grumpier and grumpier and old men with bushy eyebrows and trillionaires for aides are talking about taking over countries to boost security. Just steal them, plonk an army onsite and take over. Like Vietnam, or Afghanistan. What could possibly go wrong.

Coastlands Art Project launches this weekend

Posted on April 2, 2025June 19, 2025 by Dexter

Apr 2, 2025 The Enhance Coastlands Art Project saw 19 power boxes painted by artists, including up-and-coming names, school students and art class participants.

Letter: How times have changed

Posted on March 21, 2025June 19, 2025 by Dexter

Mar 21, 2025 If you hear a bigot attacking diversity, equity and inclusion, ask them what it is they are against. Is it diversity, is it equality, or is it inclusion? And then ask them to tell you what they have against any of these things. I promise you it’s a conversation that will bring a smile to your face.

Ko Wai Koe?

Posted on February 21, 2025June 23, 2025 by Dexter

Feb 21, 2025 Thank you for putting your name forward to lead our community, Dave.

Thanks, regardless of the outcome of the election, I will still lead in the same way I always have, by speaking truth to power. That can be in a council chamber, a letter to the editor, or on a roundabout.

Hikoi for Health

Posted on February 19, 2025June 23, 2025 by Dexter

Feb 19, 2025 Councillor Tánczos said the hikoi was “fantastic”. “The community turned out in force to express their concern and anger. I think we sent a powerful message to Te Whatu Ora and the Government.” He said the Hikoi for Health Coalition would be sending a list of six demands to Health NZ Te Whatu Ora and the Minister of Health this week. “It’s important for a community like ours to stand up and have a voice for these kinds of things.”

Letter: Let’s work together

Posted on January 21, 2025June 19, 2025 by Dexter

Jan 31 2025 It’s time to stand up to Wellington as one voice and that time is now.

Letter: We are still a democracy

Posted on December 23, 2024June 19, 2025 by Dexter

Dec 20, 2024 WAG are using rhetoric that suits their argument but is at odds with the truth. This is becoming a concerning habit, especially around a democratic process.

Letter: Pushing for autocratic structure

Posted on November 15, 2024May 23, 2025 by Dave Stewart

Nov 15, 2024 I know a small number of people would love an autocratic mayor, but to those people I simply ask this question – what if that mayor was me?

Opinion: Two sides to every story

Posted on October 25, 2024June 19, 2025 by Dexter

Oct 25, 2024 I took the liberty of asking to see the minutes of the meeting where the master plan was approved and found that, along with a new toilet, we are getting new lights, improved pedestrian access, better facilities for disabled ratepayers, more cohesion with the RSA next door for our memorial services, lighting and improved ability to run night-time community events and a host of other enrichments which, as is now customary, were left out of the rants by the negativity brigade.

Letter: Support the Sunday Market

Posted on October 16, 2024June 23, 2025 by Dexter

Oct 16, 2024 The Sunday Market organisers have always had a strong community-minded focus and offer stall spaces free to community groups such as Waste Zero Whakatāne, school fundraising groups and political parties before elections. It is also a prime spot for us as a community board and for Whakatāne District Council to have engagement with the public on various topical issues, such as the long-term plan. As a community board we would like to take this opportunity to support the organisers of the Sunday Market and acknowledge how much mahi goes on behind the scenes to make it happen every week.

Letter: Some oldies support investment in the future

Posted on October 16, 2024June 23, 2025 by Dexter

Oct 16, 2024 WHEN anyone disagrees with WAG, there’s a pile on in the Beacon letters until they give up and shut up. I’m thankful that Dave Stewart has not been bullied into silence as well. There’s more than a few of us who are also sick of WAG’s constant grumbling, negativity and disinformation, and who are pleased to see his comments published in the Beacon.

Letter: Whakatane Action Group should be open to other people’s views

Posted on October 11, 2024June 19, 2025 by Dexter

Oct 11, 2024 My concerns about WAG’s negativity is that it risks hiding the costs and outcomes that are the alternatives, as we discovered after the post-election euphoria of the cancellation of the previous government’s water reforms – a $440,000,000 ratepayer bill. This concerns the risk of the support WAG have given to central Government’s attacks on local democracy under the banner of “local government reform” without knowing what it will look like. We only need to ask the good folk of Dunedin with the huge protests over the hospital cancellation or Wairarapa, with the eye watering hike in user pays road tolls, to see how badly that can turn out.

Letter: Easy to criticise, not so easy to offer alternatives

Posted on September 13, 2024June 19, 2025 by Dexter

Sep 13, 2024 I am disappointed but not surprised that WAG does not see itself as having to offer alternatives to the programmes they criticise because, as we all know, criticising someone or something is easy. Alternatives are harder. And we do all acknowledge that there is a lot the council could do better. As my opinion piece pointed out, banging on about something you don’t like without clearly laying out the alternative has led us to face a $440,000,000 bill as the alternative to the old Three Waters legislation. I thank WAG for owning their support for this alternative.

Enough negativity, where are the alternatives

Posted on August 30, 2024June 19, 2025 by Dexter

Aug 30, 2024 Whakatane Action Group are using rhetoric that suits their argument but is at odds with the truth. This is becoming a concerning habit, especially around a democratic process.

Letter: Not a budget for all New Zealanders

Posted on July 12, 2024June 19, 2025 by Dexter

Jul 12, 2024 As part of the protest group Postpone The Tax Cuts, we met with Ms Kirkpatrick on May 3 this year and conveyed to her our concerns about the amount of borrowing that the National-led Coalition government would need to undertake to finance this budget. We were told to wait until the budget came out and then see if our concerns were valid.

Well, it turns out Finance Minister Nicola Willis will need to borrow $28.7 billion over the next four years. That’s up by $22 billion from the $6.5 billion forecast just before Christmas that sent financial experts across the political spectrum calling on the Government to postpone the tax cuts.

The tax cuts themselves will cost Ms Willis $14.7 billion.

Tax cut protest takes roundabout way to Wellington

Posted on April 5, 2024May 23, 2025 by Dave Stewart

April 5, 2024 “With the coalition Government’s tax cuts being universally condemned, I think it’s important to ask that they be postponed,” Stewart said. Tax cuts for middle to low income earners were one of the National party’s campaign promises during last year’s election, however, many are opposed to them through fear of where funds will be taken from. Stewart said the Government would pay for them with increases in other areas.

Whakatāne man’s roadside stance against hate directed at ex-PM Jacinda Ardern

Posted on January 27, 2023May 23, 2025 by Dave Stewart

27 Jan, 2023 Whakatāne man Dave Stewart has been spurred by the hate and vitriol directed at Jacinda Ardern to demonstrate his gratitude for her public service. Stewart has been seen every day, since Monday, standing on prominent roundabouts or roadsides in Whakatāne during peak traffic hours holding a sign saying, “Thank you Jacinda, best PM ever”. He intends to continue for the rest of this week. He said the purpose of his stance has been to stand up to all the bullying and hate that Ardern had been subject to.

Category: From The Press