Category Archives: Uncategorized

ODT Wednesday, 3 June 2026 Limiting voting rights ‘slap in the face’ for iwi – Ellison By Ruby Shaw and Matthew Littlewood full story subscribed only. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/limiting-voting-rights-slap-face-iwi Regional council chairwoman Hillary Calvert said, in her view, the proposal ‘‘supports democratic … Continue reading →

I have been asked to provide a lay language version of Dr Hamlin’s Debt Opinion Piece as below, so ChatGPT suggests this: DCC debt: why the borrowing cap matters Dunedin City Council Group debt is rising fast. The graph shows … Continue reading →

DCC Debt –The Local Government Funding Authority is now the final line of defense On May 21st an ODT article noted that Dunedin City Treasury Ltd. wants the Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA), to lift a borrowing cap so that … Continue reading →

You could build four small houses for that. My full opinion to the ODT: Hi Grant, I am most uncomfortable with the spending of $2.1 million on the titivation of the Civic Centre second floor. This DCC second-floor spend echo’s … Continue reading →

The two unsustainable debt monsters that drive rates increases were clearly shown in the DCC Finance and Performance meeting agenda graph yesterday, so I highlighted them with a felt pen.

Clear answers to good questions in my view. Just 6 minutes.   :<)

Best to drop your voting paper in supermarket orange bins or go to the DCC Octagon Civic Centre where you can vote even without your papers before the Tuesday 12th noon deadline.

Today’s ODT front page highlights unaffordable financial and Heritage risk to Dunedin if central government changes our earthquake risk from Low to Medium. There has never been an earthquake fatality or injury issue in Dunedin. Cr. Lund and by-election candidate … Continue reading →

Extension of bus stop would deplete city amenity: Vandervis A DUNEDIN city councillor has criticised a decision to spend up to $25,000 extending a bus stop over safety concerns, saying it will deplete centre-city ‘‘amenity’’ A raft of parking changes … Continue reading →

Shift stadium focus: Vandervis MATTHEW LITTLEWOOD Lee Vandervis DUNEDIN City Councillor Lee Vandervis is calling for the city to shift its aspirations for the stadium, after the sudden departure of its boss. Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive Paul Doorn … Continue reading →

In my view the best available candidate to get much needed common sense and local government management experience is Jo Galer. The ad below is from Saturday’s ODT.

My full email to the ODT responding to figures just released of DCC staff credit-card spending. From: Lee Vandervis <lee@vandervision.co.nz>Date: Tuesday, 31 March 2026 at 3:00 PMTo: Grant Miller <grant.miller@odt.co.nz>, Mayor <mayor@dcc.govt.nz>, Cherry Lucas <cherry.lucas@dcc.govt.nz>Subject: Re: Local Government Official Information request – 1273766 – Sensitive … Continue reading →

Shared with Public Co-Chairs of DCC Finance & Performance Committee respond to Cr Simms’ suggestion of a special workshop and to 6 months of Cr. Ong’s claims to have a ‘secret formula’ and ‘new innovations’ to deal with DCC planned … Continue reading →

Today’s ODT has a concise and insightful summary of DCC unsustainable spending and the shutting down of reasoned debate. Pay-walled unfortunately for online readers. My accurately quoted responses to the ODT this week were as follows: From: Lee Vandervis <lee@vandervision.co.nz> … Continue reading →

In 18 years as a Councillor and often Mayoral runner-up, I have done all I could for the ratepayer in the meeting, and then voted with my feet when it became pointless to stay… On average only once every 3 … Continue reading →

Today’s full speech that Mayor Barker and other’s repeatedly interrupted and eventually silenced…

This data shows how NZ Councils have become unaffordable unsustainable bureaucracies since they deviated from providing basic services. Not just rates but unprecedented debt…

ORC or not ORC? That is the question.Whether it is better to suffer outrageous ORC rates increases, wasteful regulatory bureaucracy and lazy leaseholds, or simply end them – is too big a challenge for Central Government whose answer is to … Continue reading →

In my view and the view of most people I talk with, The Queen’s Drive trial is yet another unnecessary and excluding project from the DCC car-cancelling Council. Queen’s driving through the green belt has long been the feature, and … Continue reading →

Jules suddenly has gone. Seems unfair and wrong. Jules was decent and pleasant to everyone. His experience and connections will be sorely missed on Council. My heart goes out to Jules’ family and especially Pam who will have so much … Continue reading →