221
Daveforcouncil
I stand for transparency and strong community values. I will protect our council services from harsh cuts and make sure local leadership stays accountable to the people - not outside interests. Keep Whakatāne’s future in the hands of those who truly care.
The National led coalition government has announced it's intentions to remove petrol tax and replace it with more expensive road users charges administered by a for profit private company.![]()
![]()
The message for ratepayers here, as the National led coalition roll out their local government reforms which also have a strong an emphasis on user pays is that we will be paying much more, for much less.
Is Returning GST To Councils 'Ultra Left Wing Spin'?![]()
![]()
Is Returning GST To Councils ‘Ultra Left Wing Spin’?
daveforcouncil.nz
Mayors and chairs commented to the survey “that a share of the GST revenue generated in their districts should be returned to local government”, saying GST was the “clear favouri...
I'm back and better than ever ![]()
![]()
It's time to have a mature conversation about unaffordable rates and if you're concerned come and talk to me this morning.![]()
![]()
Did you know the government will take in $1.5 billion dollars in GST on rates this year?![]()
![]()
Whakatāne ratepayers will pay over $9 million in GST on our rates.![]()
![]()
Rates never used to attract GST, because it's already a tax.![]()
![]()
Now it's a tax on a tax.![]()
![]()
There is a growing call to remove GST from rates and I want to add our voices to that call.![]()
![]()
Taking GST off rates will be a game changer.![]()
![]()
Let's change the game.
My post about my Beacon OpEd "A mature conversation about unaffordable rates" was a hot topic of conversation and I got over 100 reactions on my posts last week! Thanks everyone for your support! 🎉
Source Dave Stewart PDF Dave Stewart In response to Lenore Craig’s letter (Denying democratic rights, Beacon July 30),there is one glaring issue with this that seems to have been left out of this discussion. David Seymour proudly announcing his voter suppression measures has to be one of the most interesting exchanges of the current government’s term so far. At present people are legally entitled to register to vote right up until election day....![]()
![]()
Letter: National Party deeply divided
daveforcouncil.nz
Source Dave Stewart PDF Dave Stewart In response to Lenore Craig’s letter (Denying democratic rights, Beacon July 30),there is one glaring issue with this that seems to have been left out of this .....
EDIT: POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER ![]()
![]()
Back to the roundabouts for Team Dave. This Friday and every Friday.![]()
![]()
Whakatāne ✅ Wellington ❎
More bad news from this bad news government in Wellington that simply is more interested in lining the pockets of it's mates than providing housing for needy folk.![]()
![]()
This is more than disappointing - it's disgusting.Whakatāne will lose out on more than 70 new houses as part of a financial reset by Kāinga Ora.
Article: Bay of Plenty Regional Council Confirms Candidates for 2025 Local Elections![]()
![]()
Article: Bay of Plenty Regional Council Confirms Candidates for 2025 Local Elections
daveforcouncil.nz
Source The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has released its final list of candidates for the upcoming local body elections in October 2025. Governance Manager Steve Groom says he is pleased with th...
Welcome to the first of Dave's Raves.![]()
![]()
I walk my dog Tui twice daily around the neighbourhood. It's good for her and it's good for me. ![]()
![]()
And now it's good for you.![]()
![]()
My walk around the block clears my head and often I come up with ideas for articles or letters or stuff to write or say to people about the way things are and why we need to talk about it and look for answers.![]()
![]()
Yesterday I was having a bit of a think about the way David Seymore and the Act Party are attempting to take over local councils and in particular their idea of what voting should look like.![]()
![]()
So here are my thoughts.![]()
![]()
Drop Kick Rant - Dave's Rave #0000000001 in a series...
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.
Article: How to check your enrolment after concerns from voters![]()
![]()
Article: How to check your enrolment after concerns from voters
daveforcouncil.nz
“If you’re on the dormant roll, your record won’t show up on vote.nz, but you’ll be re-enrolled as soon as you fill in an enrolment form with your current address. “I...
Now that nominations are closed and we have a list of candidates ready to work together for Whakatāne it's time to kick start the teamwork with the candidates Collective.![]()
![]()
First meetup is this FridaMata Beer Beer from 5 PM.![]()
![]()
This is for all candidates in the Whakatāne District Council election to meet up and work together to pool resources, share experiences and generally get to know each other.![]()
![]()
We're going to have to work together after the election so let's get started right away.![]()
![]()
daveforcouncil.nz/906/
Article: Councillors tired of being ‘beaten up’ and blamed by central government![]()
![]()
Article: Councillors tired of being ‘beaten up’ and blamed by central government
daveforcouncil.nz
In a statement yesterday, Local Government Minister Simon Watts said some households were getting frustrated by unfair rate hikes during the cost-of-living crisis. It followed comments at the rece...
The results of the raffles are:![]()
RAFFLE 1: 4 hours of handyman work raffle won by Rebecca Lange ![]()
![]()
RAFFLE 2: Goodie bag with $50 Gibbos Voucher, $30 Whakamax voucher, books, wine, conectuinary, condiments etc D 030![]()
![]()
Please get in touch to claim your prizes.
Opinion: A mature conversation about unaffordable rates. There are many more ideas that we need to be discussing about rates reform before we start talking about flogging off the family silverware Peter.![]()
![]()
Opinion: A mature conversation about unaffordable rates
daveforcouncil.nz
Source Dave Stewart PDF I want to thank Peter Minten for his opinion piece (Where is your research?, Beacon. July 25) and acknowledging that the forces of conservatism are lining up our community ...
Article: Calls for ‘department for local government’ to oversee councils![]()
![]()
Article: Calls for ‘department for local government’ to oversee councils
daveforcouncil.nz
“There are some steps available to central government such as the appointment of an observer or the replacement of a council with commissioners ... but that tends to be used as a last resort a...
Dave Aid is Sold Out, practically.![]()
![]()
I've enabled a few more Standing Room Only tickets for people who want to be there and don't mind hanging out in the tap room or standing in the main room.![]()
![]()
I'm not going to miss the chance to introduce Warren Cate though, because we go back so very far.![]()
![]()
Back in the day I was a drummer in bands around South Auckland playing Doobie Brother and Eagles covers. A friend sent me an album. It had a black and white photo 4 young men who looked like they were in a gang, or waiting to rob someone.![]()
![]()
It was The Ramones first album.![]()
![]()
Suddenly all the rules disappeared and I started looking for another band.![]()
![]()
There wasn't one in South Auckland, but there were a few in Central Auckland.![]()
![]()
I met some great people and most of them are still my friends.![]()
![]()
Warren is one of them. We've been mates since the first day of punk rock and still play together on each others recordings and have gigs together with our other bands. ![]()
![]()
Mine is The Fuzztards and Warren has a few: Known Associates is a supergroup and The College Hillbillys are Warren's 'open mic guys' band.![]()
![]()
Whenever I make a new recording, I send it to Warren, and always follow his advise on what to fix.![]()
![]()
And he sends me copies of all this CDs, there's about 12 of them now.![]()
![]()
Warren works in property. He and I have very different views on things outside of music, but it's our connection as friends that allows us to navigate those other issues and remain good friends.![]()
![]()
I know Warren well enough to know he wouldn't mind me telling you we don't see eye to eye politically, in fact he'll probably be really happy for me to point that out (LoL)![]()
![]()
But he knows me and despite our political differences he still thinks my campaign to stand for the things I believe in is something he can support.![]()
![]()
And that's what you want and expect from friends.![]()
![]()
If only we could all have more of it.![]()
![]()
Warren will be the final artist to play Dave Aid, and it is one of the privileges of my life to be able to bring these artists to you for your pleasure and entertainment as we campaign for a better Whakatāne where all voices are heard and everyone has a say.![]()
![]()
daveforcouncil.nz/dave-aid/
Navigating Difficult Questions The Dave Stewart Way![]()
![]()
Navigating Difficult Questions
daveforcouncil.nz
Our world needs to know that friends can disagree and still be friends. We can have strong disagreements and still be friends. It’s because we are friends that we can disagree. This is my message .....
Article: Rates rises are all about water. About 40 water entities emerging in Government water regime![]()
![]()
Article: About 40 water entities emerging in Government water regime
daveforcouncil.nz
The cost of water services would be going up a lot, Kircher said, but less so under a joint model. Now, keeping the services in-house, his council’s total rates take would have to increase by 25% .....
You're in danger of missing out on what could be the campaign event of the Whakatāne local body election.![]()
![]()
Dave Aid brings 5 quality artists to @Mata Beer this Saturday night and we are almost sold out - 99 tickets sold already so 5 or 6 more seated and then it's standing room only. ![]()
![]()
4th on the line up is Moone from Te Puke![]()
![]()
Moone is a captivating performer whose voice echoes with truth, warmth, and just the right amount of edge.![]()
![]()
Known for her unique take on well-loved classics, she brings both grit and grace.![]()
![]()
Effortlessly cool and quietly powerful, Moone doesn’t just sing the song — she lives it.![]()
![]()
Hurry up and secure the last remaining tickets and help get Dave Stewart elected to the Whakatāne District Council and make sure all voices are heard loud and clear as we fight to lower unaffordable rates and push for real reform from our servants on Wellington.![]()
![]()
Link for tickets in the comments.![]()
![]()
daveforcouncil.nz/dave-aid/
Less than 25 tickets left for Dave Aid.![]()
![]()
5 quality artists and the opportunity to support the campaign to get Dave Stewart elected to the Whakatāne District Council.![]()
![]()
daveforcouncil.nz
Tickets are $25 a head, limited tickets. If you are unable to make it to the DAVE AID Concert you can still make a donation on the booking page to support our campaign for a better council and low...
It is my absolute pleasure to have Jono Breakwell join me on Saturday August 2nd where he will bring his amazing musical talent to Dave Aid.![]()
![]()
Jono is originally from Rotorua but is now living in the paradise that is Whakatāne for the last 2 years.![]()
![]()
Jono is a seasoned musician with countless performances under his belt, he brings his own unique blend and style of both original and classic cover songs via his trusty Maton guitar and loop pedal,![]()
crowd interaction is a must!!
As we approach this year's local body elections various right wing groups are lining up to help the government intensify it's attack on localism by bringing forward policies that take council services away from us.![]()
![]()
You'll hear things like 'zero rates increases' and 'rates caps' but you wont hear things like how we will pay for Whakatāne's upcoming 300 million dollar water infrastructure upgrade.![]()
![]()
That's where the detail is.![]()
![]()
Hidden.![]()
![]()
There's a hidden agenda at play here and it's voters who are being played.![]()
![]()
'Our' government in Wellington has donors, massive donors, who want to take over our services and apply their 'user pays' ideology to it. We've seen it with tax cuts for landlords, tax breaks for big tobacco, handouts to mining companies... the list is endless.![]()
![]()
We have the luxury of seeing what rates caps and user pays means by the failure of this ideology in other parts of the world.![]()
![]()
What will it mean in Whakatāne?![]()
![]()
Well, when a street light needs replacing because someone crashed into the lamp post, people living in that street will get a bill from the council for it's replacement.![]()
![]()
When the contractor for rubbish collection or recycling increase their price, council will send you the bill for the increase, because you voted for zero rates increases.![]()
![]()
When Wellington tells Whakatāne District Council to hire consultants to carry out yet another Wellington 'vanity' project, more services will be cut to pay the consultants bill, because you voted for zero rates increases.![]()
![]()
When this lot in Wellington get thrown out and the new lot decide to change road speeds (for the third time), Whakatāne will have to pay half the cost of changing the road signs again. That cost will come off services, because rates are frozen.![]()
![]()
To put that into perspective, in Auckland the cost to ratepayers of the road speed vanity project this year was $8.8 million.![]()
![]()
When Wellington cuts the funding for school buses, as they did recently in New Plymouth, the council will either cut the bus service, or make you pay for it.![]()
![]()
No one can stop inflation so when inflation hits the council, like it hits everyone, more and more services will be cut, because that's what you voted for.![]()
![]()
Zero rates increases aren't really zero rates increases.![]()
![]()
They're cost increases in another form. A hidden agenda.![]()
![]()
What services are you prepared to see cut and, here's the kick in the guts no one wants to talk about, how much devaluation on the value of your home are you prepared to trade away in order to pay for these cuts?![]()
![]()
People promising zero rates cuts and rates caps know this will be the result, but they're not campaigning on that.![]()
![]()
They're not being honest.![]()
![]()
If honesty isn't important, then vote for them.![]()
![]()
If honesty means something to you, vote for the people who are aren't telling you lies.![]()
![]()
That's the 'real change' our politics needs.![]()
![]()
Come along on August 2nd at Mata Beer for live music and good vibes and come the local body election, vote for real change.
Be in to win a pair of FREE VIP TICKETS valued at $100 to Dave Aid on Saturday August 2nd at Mata Beer![]()
![]()
There are 5 class acts performing all in support of getting some common sense on the Whakatāne District Council by electing Dave Stewart to shake things up and get to the bottom of the real causes of our unaffordable rates hikes.![]()
![]()
To be in with a chance ![]()
![]()
1/. Go to the Daveforcouncil Facebook page![]()
2/. Like or Follow the page ![]()
3/. Drop your name in the comments of THIS post.
Anthony Alexander Coulter will be live at Dave Aid![]()
![]()
Born in London Anthony spent most of his teenage years in numerous bands including MIND GAMES in Battle of the Bands.![]()
![]()
In the early 80s Anthony played Piano Keyboard and synthesizer![]()
and also studied at Music School in Auckland. ![]()
![]()
He then went on to Writing Recording and producing his own music.![]()
![]()
After years in the music industry he still loves performing and continues to write his own material.
High quality hand made artisan agreements promoting good vibes for all at the Whakatāne Sunday Market today...![]()
![]()
... and it's all FREE!
Ivan Arnerich![]()
![]()
A seasoned musician who genuinely loves playing live.![]()
![]()
With acoustic guitars and an electric kick drum for the more upbeat songs, Ivan covers classic songs through to modern hits…from The Police and Dave Dobbyn, to Walk The Moon and Snow Patrol.![]()
![]()
He’ll have your toes a tappin’, singing the songs you love, and smiling your night away.
Letter: Whakatāne Action Group's 'Core Group' Conspiracy Theory Exposed?![]()
![]()
If the truth is that the reason our council debt has ballooned is caused by their unidentified and unnamed core group of councillors, can WAG now explain how this villainous core group has managed to also balloon the debt on 14 councils above us on the Taxpayer’s Union list, and I guess those below us as well.![]()
![]()
Letter: Whakatāne Action Group’s ‘Core Group’ Conspiracy Theory Exposed?
daveforcouncil.nz
If the truth is that the reason our council debt has ballooned is caused by their unidentified and unnamed core group of councillors, can WAG now explain how this villainous core group has managed...
Article: It would have been better for the National-led coalition to lift the hood on Labour’s three waters policy and chuck out what they didn’t like, instead of scrapping it and starting again.![]()
![]()
Article: Govt winds up council reform storm
daveforcouncil.nz
“We all want lower rates increases. I want lower rates increases, I know you want lower rates increases, I hear from my community they want lower rates increases. But it can’t be at the expense of...
📌 EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT TICKETS FOR DAVE AID AVAILABLE NOW - LIMITED TO 10![]()
![]()
🔗 Get yours here: daveforcouncil.nz/dave-aid/
You can't vote if you're not enrolled.![]()
![]()
Even if you don't vote for me and would never vote for me, you should enrol and make sure all voices are heard in our elections.![]()
![]()
vote.nz
Enrol to vote or check and update your enrolment details. Get ready to have your say in New Zealand’s elections and referendums.
Article: Teen cycles from Whakatāne to Parliament for Māori wards![]()
![]()
Article: Teen cycles from Whakatāne to Parliament for Māori wards
daveforcouncil.nz
After biking almost a thousand kilometres encouraging people to ‘say yes to Māori wards’, a 15-year-old Whakatāne High School student pulled into Parliament’s forecourt with a wh...
Article: The argument against council rate caps.![]()
![]()
As Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop put it recently, central government’s record on asset maintenance is “far worse” than councils, which at least go through transparent audited public long-term planning processes.![]()
![]()
Article: The argument against council rate caps
daveforcouncil.nz
OPINION: What do we do about 78 councils, rising rates and the need to improve efficiency and focus on the basics? Some argue the Government should simply pass a law to cap rates and let ‘the mark.....
Article: Capping rates rises would make things 'worse not better'.![]()
![]()
"Having created a situation where councils are being forced to put up the rates to pay for things like water infrastructure, the government's now trying to blame them for doing something that they really don't have a choice but to do.![]()
![]()
"Ultimately if the government don't want councils to increase rates, they've got to find another way of funding the water infrastructure that we need."![]()
![]()
Local Government New Zealand president and Selwyn District mayor Sam Broughton said rates capping could be "disastrous for communities" and leave councils without the means to fund essential infrastructure.![]()
![]()
Article: Capping rates rises would make things ‘worse not better’ – Chris Hipkins
daveforcouncil.nz
“Having created a situation where councils are being forced to put up the rates to pay for things like water infrastructure, the government’s now trying to blame them for doing somethi...
Brand your car and support lower rates by telling Wellington to fully fund its multimillion dollar demands on Whakatāne.![]()
![]()
Car stickers now available.![]()
![]()
Grab one at the Whakatāne Sunday Market tomorrow.
Coalition finds a handy distraction in council bashing.![]()
![]()
Councils are getting around 10% of their budgets from Crown grants when in other countries it’s more like 15-20% or more. Or, as the S&P analyst says, “you’re told to do more infrastructure spending, and you’re getting less support”.![]()
![]()
This is the opposite of localism and resetting the relationship between central and local government that Christopher Luxon and National campaigned on two years ago. Instead, giving the housing minister the power to override democratically elected council decisions, even if it’s an interim measure ahead of new RMA laws, smacks of subverting the democratic process.![]()
![]()
And it’s those changes to the Resource Management Act that the coalition Government is itching to get completed because it presents a compelling reason to get rid of the country’s 11 regional councils.![]()
![]()
Article: Coalition finds a handy distraction in council bashing
daveforcouncil.nz
Councils are getting around 10% of their budgets from Crown grants when in other countries it’s more like 15-20% or more. Or, as the S&P analyst says, “you’re told to do more infrastructure s...
📌 We're putting the 'fun' into Fundraising with a Quiz Night at our local brewery, Mata Beer. Great prizes as well. ![]()
![]()
🔗 Read more here: daveforcouncil.nz/quiz-night-fundraiser-july-12.../
This is going to be a fun night and what a great cause - getting Dave Stewart on the Whakatane District Council.![]()
![]()
And there's the best beer in the Mata Beer Beer on tap and Mumma G's fine menu.![]()
![]()
Register with daveforcouncilnz@gmail.com for a table for 6 just just $90![]()
![]()
Hurry, there's a limit and you don't want to miss out.
Quiz Night Fundraiser – July 12 – Mata Beer – 6pm
daveforcouncil.nz
DAVE STEWART FOR COUNCIL QUIZ NIGHT FUNDRAISER JULY 12th from 6pm at MATA BEER 17 Gateway Crescent, Whakatane, New Zealand Book a table for your team of 6 people and join us for a night of fun and...