Author Archives: Lee Vandervis

‘Altering’ Democracy is a necessary step in reverting to Tribalism and Minority Rule. Mayor Hawkins confirms he is anti-Democracy claiming that “the interests of minorities will never be served by a popular vote” and his running mate Cr. Laufiso is … Continue reading →

IN DEFENCE OF DEMOCRACY Professor Elizabeth Rata University of Auckland Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me to speak today. My talk ‘In Defence of Democracy’ is for those of all political persuasions who are deeply worried about New Zealand’s … Continue reading →

Dunedin Council legal staff today confirmed that the proposed 3 Waters “protection mechanisms to prevent privatisation are insufficient as they could be repealed or amended by a simple majority in Parliament”, meaning that our $3 BILLION ratepaid investment over the … Continue reading →

I have made my submission to 3 Waters Committee Members: The Water Services Entities Bill and the Three Waters reforms have been foisted on our Councils without any consultation or pre-election warning. The 3 Waters takeover is un-Democratic, and puts … Continue reading →

Local Government New Zealand extracts 4 million rates-paid dollars from our Councils every year for supposed representation to Government, but instead is an apologist for Government ideology, dismissing 3 Waters push-back and Communities 4 Local Democracy, and publishing the following … Continue reading →

Einstein may not have actually said this, but it is no less true. Yesterday the basis for our interest rates, the Official Cash Rate went up again by 50 basis points to 2.5%, the 6th rates rise since October last … Continue reading →

My concern is for the reputational harm done by Dunedin City Council staff with the unprecedented misuse of the Councillor Code of Conduct process which was leaked smearing the likely candidate for the 2019 Council Mayoral election. I actually went … Continue reading →

TROLLs are what is wrong with social media, keyboard activists who delight in smearing, lying about, and misrepresenting people that aren’t extreme leftie or woke like they are.Oscar Francis is special kind of keyboard activist still employed as a ‘reporter’ … Continue reading →

The DCC Code of Conduct has become a Kangaroo Court, with no effective balance or Natural Justice rights for the accused. Clause 12 of the Code of Conduct says that “only members and the chief executive may make a complaint”, … Continue reading →

Showing more respect to MP Mahuta is not something I intend to do, since she has lost my respect over her 3 waters asset grab, first by promising Councils they could opt-in or opt-out, and when 60 of 67 opted … Continue reading →

I intend to make myself available for election again for both Council and for Mayor in the hope of being able to affect a positive DCC course-correction that will bring back Democracy instead of party political agendas that threaten the … Continue reading →

Push to remove Melbourne’s bike lanes https://www.3aw.com.au/push-to-remove-melbournes-bike-lanes-to-return-city-to-its-former-glory/?fbclid=IwAR1wFhgeRuhf4jajFuDK1BQ_uMjbBE_Vw8SmmaTsZJKjKC99S_IlYJBdsSM

The ODT have printed my letter to the editor in full! Dear Editor, We need to keep the One-Way system as one way obviously, as NZTA/Waka Kotahi have explained, but to suggest that our One-Way works perfectly well as Cr. … Continue reading →

$2.5 million per year just to avoid making an inevitable decision? It is my unpopular duty to let Dunedin people know how far gone options are for the Middlemarch track. Can anybody suggest where the first $20 million might come … Continue reading →

This from ex-Southland Regional CEO Ciaran Keogh: abridged to meet FB word limit. Sent: Thursday, 21 April 2022 3:14 p.m. To: morgan.godfrey@otago.ac.nz Cc: j.ardern@ministers.govt.nz; opinion@stuff.co.nz; rebecca.ryan@oamarumail.co.nz; Christopher.Luxon@parliament.govt.nz : re your 3 waters article in Stuff 21 April Kia ora Morgan … Continue reading →

Sammy’s should never have been purchased without a clear intended use, especially since Council does not own the land under it and Council seems not to have explored earthquake, asbestos and other issues with the building prior to purchase.It is … Continue reading →

Good that Dunedin residents feel their quality of Life to be good, second only to Wellington. But look at the real data – Export Revenue and Business Growth – and we are bottom of the list. Dunedin needs to face … Continue reading →