3 October 2022
Max Shierlaw
[FYI request #20542 email]
Tēnā koe Max
Request for Information – Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
(LGOIMA) 1987
We refer to your official information request dated 13 September 2022 for:
“…all the questions submitted by members of the public for the Mayoral debate held on
12 September 2022. Note I do not require details of who submitted the questions, only
the questions. Please also forward me all communication with the moderator which
relates to these questions.”
The information you have requested is enclosed. There were several opportunities for
questions to be submitted, as follows:
1. A Jotform was available on the Hutt City Council website so the public could submit
questions for the Mayoral Candidate debate. Questions were accepted from 5pm on 24
August 2022 until 5pm on 12 September 2022. All questions were documented into a
spreadsheet and collated into broad categories to help determine themes for the
debate as well as giving the moderator specific questions to pose to candidates. These
questions are attached as the
Mayoral Candidate Debate Questions.
The
Mayoral Candidate Debate Questions were initially shared with the moderator via
a Google Doc on Wednesday 7 September 2022, so it was able to be updated live as
more questions were submitted over the rest of the week. Communications following
this are in the attached document:
Communications with Moderator.
2. Further questions received between 10 September 2022 and 12 September 2022 were
shared in person with the moderator at the event, to inform final preparations. Refer to
the attached document:
Questions 10-12 September 2022.
3. At the Candidate Korero event, a submission box was set up at the entry so members
of the public could add questions for the debate. These questions were collated and
given to the moderator on arrival to the event, as additional material. Refer to the
attached document:
Debate Questions from event submission box (12 September
2022).
The contact details of the moderator have been redacted from these documents under
section 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA, to protect privacy of the individual.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this response.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that this letter may be published on the Council’s website.
Nāku noa, nā
Susan Sales
Senior Advisor, Official Information and Privacy
Encl:
Communications with Moderator
Debate Questions from event submission box (12 September 2022)
Questions 10-12 September 2022
Mayoral Candidate Debate Questions
Communications with moderator
From: Shelley Bascand <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 12 September 2022 10:17 am
To: Jehan Casinader
s7(2)(a)
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Questions
Sure thing!
Ngā mihi
From: Jehan Casinader <
s7(2)(a)
>
Sent: Monday, 12 September 2022 10:17 am
To: Shelley Bascand <[email address]>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Questions
Thanks Shelley, could you please print these and any additional questions that come in
today and bring them along? Thanks, Jehan
On Mon, 12 Sep 2022 at 10:15 AM, Shelley Bascand <[email address]>
wrote:
Morēna Jehan,
Hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed some of that sunshine!
We’ve had a few more questions come through:
Are you aware of the requirement to reduce vehicle km’s travelled by 20% over the next decade to
achieve climate change targets, and how will you achieve this challenging requirement?
What about rewilding the regional farm parks for the sake of the environment and climate change!
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
Significant areas of Lower Hutt are at risk from increasing climate related events, yet plan change
56 is proposing significant increased density in these areas. Do you support the increased density
and if so what will you do to ensure these areas are protected in the future from increasing climate
related events (such as storm surge, sea level rise and flooding)?
Released
Do you support the 3 Waters proposal?
If so, how will you ensure that the ratepayers of the relevant areas (who are paying for the
services) are able to hold the 3 water entity (including the co-governance entity) to account for
their decisions or failures ?
Will you advocate for real, but simple and meaningful accountability mechanisms such as regular
KPI reporting with a portion of the CEO and Board's remuneration being at risk if there are material
failures or problems?
Serious and fundamental failures may require "heads to roll". Are you prepared to ensure that
there is a mechanism in place to allow this to happen?
We are leaving the form open all day so if there are any more I’ll share them with you
tonight.
Cheers,
Ngā mihi
Shelley Bascand
Engagement Advisor
Hutt City Council, 30 Laings Road, Lower Hutt 5040
P: M: 027 666 6220
W: www.huttcity.govt.nz
IMPORTANT: The information contained in this e-mail message may be legally privileged or
confidential. The information is intended only for the recipient named in the e-mail message. If the
reader of this e-mail message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use, copying or
distribution of this e-mail message is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail message in error,
please notify the sender immediately. Thank you
From: Jehan Casinader <
s7(2)(a)
>
Sent: Friday, 9 September 2022 4:40 pm
To: Shelley Bascand <[email address]>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Questions
Thanks Shelley! Have a good weekend.
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
Jehan Casinader
s7(2)(a)
Released
On Fri, 9 Sept 2022 at 16:36, Shelley Bascand <[email address]> wrote:
Hi Jehan,
Only two extra submissions today:
Are candidates prepared to reveal any political party they represent overtly or covertly? Labour
candidates so do.
Given the cost of living, climate change adaptation, infrastructure investment needs, and an ageing
population, how do we address those pressures in our rating policies and increases over the next
5-10 years? (please refer to evidence in your answers)
Will send another update first thing Monday. Have a great weekend.
Ngā mihi
Shelley Bascand
Engagement Advisor
Hutt City Council, 30 Laings Road, Lower Hutt 5040
P: M: 027 666 6220
W: www.huttcity.govt.nz
IMPORTANT: The information contained in this e-mail message may be legally privileged or
confidential. The information is intended only for the recipient named in the e-mail message. If the
reader of this e-mail message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use, copying or
distribution of this e-mail message is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail message in error,
please notify the sender immediately. Thank you
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
From: Shelley Bascand
Sent: Friday, 9 September 2022 8:58 am
Released
To: Jehan Casinader <
s7(2)(a)
>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Questions
Morēna Jehan,
No worries, will get an update to you later today.
Have a good one…enjoy that sunshine!
Shells
From: Jehan Casinader
s7(2)(a)
>
Sent: Thursday, 8 September 2022 5:05 pm
To: Shelley Bascand <[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Questions
Hi Shelley, don't worry about putting the questions into a Word doc I have copied them
from Excel - but if there are any further questions that come in between now and
Monday, please just email them to me.
Thanks!
J.
--
s7(2)(a)
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
Released
Debate questions from Event submissions box - 12 September 2022
COVID-19
• Considering Upper Hutt Council didn’t totally ban unvaccinated people from their
facilities such as library and swimming pool – what are your thoughts about the fact the
only Lower Hutt Council property open to the unvaccinated was an office to pay their
rates?
Three Waters
• Where do you stand on 3 waters and why?
• Question to Campbell Barry: How can you support 3 waters when the majority of Hutt
rate payers are against it.
• Why is Council supporting three waters when the referendum in Lower Hutt was
largely not supporting it?
Infrastructure/Transport
• RE: Infrastructure & Rates Increase, what other alternatives are available like LGNZ
loans, Local Control Govt Partnerships to minimise rates increases or burdens on our
Grandchildren
• The intersection coming out of Whites Line East + the corner of Wainui Road (by the
Bakery) is very dangerous especially during peak hours. Trying to get through towards the
Hutt is difficult. There needs to be a round-a-bout there. Your thoughts please?
• Can you please advise your position on parking availability in the Hutt, particularly
residents parking?
Council
• Should Campbell Barry win the Mayoralty and Tony Stallinger a position on Council,
how do you think that will work out?
• Do either Mayoral Candidates intend to stand in the General Elections next year?
• Over the last term 2 councilors resigned. What do you think about that. If you run for
the city Council you should do your term.
• Do you support co-governance? If so, why?
• How would you describe a healthy + successful Council?
• Can you please state if you are linked to any:
o Anti-mandate movement
o Anti-vax movement
o Voices for freedom movement
o Destiny Church
o If yes please advise the relationship
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
Housing
• Why is the Council not promoting the building of more intensive house above the
empty land used for carparks for such as supermarkets, mitre 10, briscoes, kmart etc. The
carparks can remain at ground level. Why pick on our beautiful, leafy, loved residential
areas.
Released • What will be done to place some restrictions on density housing so the existing
suburbs don’t become an ugly eyesore and impact on light and sunshine on neighbouring
properties.
• Lower Hutt is blessed by being full of mature trees with many dwellings of special
character, especially Woburn, Boulcott, Eastbourne and Bays. Would either candidate
attempt to reverse the Plan 56 rezoning of the special residential areas and the general
residential areas to high density (6 storeys) and medium density (3 storeys)?
Misc
• Favourite place to spend time in our Council other than your home
• What 3 steps would you take to firm our financial footing
Disaster
• What are your plans when we have a Disaster on the Pukeatua maunga (WOA Hill).
We need a plan i.e (officer controls) put in place we had a good one the last day
To Campbell Barry
• If you had time opportunity to stand as labour candidate for Rimutaka electorate as
next elections (2023) would he do so?
• What would be the position for a replacement Mayor for Lower Hutt if he was
successful?
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
Released
Questions 10-12 September
If you are running as part of a team, can you state with conviction that no member of your team
has connections to VFF, attended the protests at parliament, and/or has spread covid/mask
misinformation elsewhere?
Tony, as previous CEO of Hutt City, your green credentials were less than stellar. My question to
you is:
In your opinion, which of these two statements ranks as more important for the residents of Hutt
City:
(a) the Silverstream Landfill is a large profit generator for Hutt City,
or
(b) the Silverstream Landfill is the largest source of atmospheric methane discharge in Hutt City.
I’m not looking for an explanation, just a simple one-word answer to show where your priorities
now lie. Thank you
Question for ex CEO:
What contingency plans were in place for projects that were built but ended up not being able to
cover their own operating costs?
i.e Sportsville at Fraser park, the Hotel and the Event centre.
Where was the money to come from for these projects to continue operating - rates?
Question for ex CEO;
The current councillors seem to have a professional working relationship, have read their papers,
ask informed questions and form opinions from their debate; if elected as a city wide councilor
only, how will you react to decision's that you don't agree with?
If you are elected Mayor, how will you ensure that the previous Hutt City Council decision to inform
residents is honoured
about the proven dangers of drinking fluoridated water for women who are pregnant?
Currently Council staff have been removing notices that Councillors previously requested.
Do you find it ironic that a new political party has formed to fight at these local elections with a tag
line of keep party politics out of local government?
And as per their party constitution if they don't vote as instructed by their party leader they could be
expelled from their party?
How do you plan to improve public consultation. Naenae pool was built without a cost benefit
analysis taking place and we still don't even know the running costs?
Petone stadium was a secret project by Tony Stalinger with officers spending over $500k before
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
any councilors or public knew about it and when that failed they had the secret new Petone
grandstand project.
Are you aware of the requirement to reduce vehicle km’s travelled by 20% over the next decade to
achieve climate change targets, and how will you achieve this challenging requirement?
Released
What about rewilding the regional farm parks for the sake of the environment and climate change!
Significant areas of Lower Hutt are at risk from increasing climate related events, yet plan change
56 is proposing significant increased density in these areas. Do you support the increased density
and if so what will you do to ensure these areas are protected in the future from increasing climate
related events (such as storm surge, sea level rise and flooding)?
Do you support the 3 Waters proposal?
If so, how will you ensure that the ratepayers of the relevant areas (who are paying for the
services) are able to hold the 3 water entity (including the co-governance entity) to account for
their decisions or failures ?
Will you advocate for real, but simple and meaningful accountability mechanisms such as regular
KPI reporting with a portion of the CEO and Board's remuneration being at risk if there are material
failures or problems?
Serious and fundamental failures may require "heads to roll". Are you prepared to ensure that
there is a mechanism in place to allow this to happen?
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
Released
