I think they are desperate and worried because reform of the RMA has been a major policy plank and a lot of work has gone into it by Nick Smith. NZ needs it so it would be a real shame if it doesn't happen !
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According to the opposition commentators in this article, the government could have been doing lots, under the current rules, but have chosen not to. Their attitude has been to let the market forces do their thing, by and large. Not always a good thing.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/poli...ent-Act-reform
Those books behind Nick Smith, are generated by teams of planners in each local body, and produced over decades. They don't all apply together in the one location. Yes, maybe some changes in philosophy are needed, steadily. That's probably happening already. What the opposition don't want to see, are changes promoted as being in the public good, which are actually more in developer's interests. I know of one person who was preparing to spend $100k in court to overturn a local body decision about a smallish property development. He could presumably afford to spend that because of the profits that would accrue if the development was allowed. These types of decisions are no different to any business risks that owners take on. It's a bit of a shame this money is being spent in courts over property ideas, when that same cash could start up a new business that has the potential to employ many people.
So I say leave the RMA as it is, or we'll see even less investment in the productive economy.
That is simply mad EZ. The RMA is crazy as it stands. An example is an organisation here in the Nelson area that spent $6.5k on a permit to build a bicycle stand worth $2k for its staff, outside their office. Surely even you could support some serious changes to this stupid act !
If the firm is big enough for a $2000 bike rack, their wages bill would dwarf the permit costs, each week. The local council has had some chargeable work for their team of planners, maybe just one of them. The rest went into their coffers to defray rates for landowners. I can imagine the council were interested in what new traffic hazards might be created, if any carparks were being used up that were still needed around the building, visual disturbance, etc. I haven't had any expenses of this nature for a long time, and not all councils act in the same way. Nelson is a very tidy urban/tourist area generally, and I guess there would have been some good reason(s) for them not to rubberstamp a bike rack.
I would suggest the RMA does need a lot of reform, however the fear a lot of people have, is that due to National's previous form, such as their disastrous changes to DOC that they are now reversing, in many cases that the changes implemented will mean development at all cost & stuff the consequences.
So some people would rather see no change than an extreme change that a lot of people expect National to try & implement. So in the end nobody wins.
What I would really like to see some over arching nation wide policy on urban development & land use. To stop urban sprawl & have plans around urban growth & infrastructure & make it far more concentrated & centralized within say Auckland as an example. Also land use, in regards protecting some of NZs best productive land like the Bombay Hills from being turned into suburbia. Some farming land should be restricted on type of use where its apparent its unsustainable particularly around water. I am sure red tape could be trimmed back in some cases without compromising the process, however most opponents think National will do just that. Compromise the process by allowing developers the ability to plough ahead with little restriction or opportunity to object.
I've just realized why Daytr (bet he's never done any daytrading in his life) has suddenly become so active on the Elections thread. It's so EZ doesn't have the embarrassment again of having 5 consecutive postings unbroken by any other poster (and possibly all 5 postings unread). Now EZ and Daytr can alternate cozily. One question arises (and some previous posters have been banned because of this, Young Jamie comes to mind as one example) - are EZ and Daytr the same person?
Even if they're not they are both wildly unrepresentative of the average user of the Sharetrader comments Boards.....(see Poll results on this thread just before the last General Election :-) )
MVT, what world do you live in? One perhaps you think you really are your persona?
The reason why I have become active on this thread is because I live Northland, you know the place where the by-election is actually happening & relevant. For your reference seeing you didn't even realize Northland had a port, Whangarei isn't part of the by-election, just a side note for those who are unaware.
As I traded international commodity, FX & interest rate markets professionally for over 15 years for banks & was a global expert on gold, oil & other commodity markets advising multinational companies all around the world, I think your assumption may just a wee bit off about who or what I am or have been.
Stick to your knitting son, you are just embarrassing yourself.
I can just imagine a Tom Scott cartoon of the Major sitting in a leather chair at his club ,glass of port in hand spluttering over those left leaning troublemakers interfering with his right to push his own viewpoint without opposition.
The majority of contributors appear to be somewhere to the right of centre and generally reply to the postings of a few contributors who appear to upset the fiery old Major. Without them you would have nothing to get upset over or write about.
westerly
How very perceptive of you MVT, however I've only visited Northland once or twice, so you'll find I know a bit more about the Waikato, if anything. The fact that Daytr, Westerly, Sgt Pepper, Winner69 and myself sometimes agree with each other, doesn't mean we are nutters, the same person, or are even incorrect. It's up to you guys to prove we're wrong to hold our opinions.
p.s. (Usually) good luck with that.
I just like the way he tries to marginalize people, like you aren't one of us etc.
Need to feel like he belongs I suspect.
I for one am glad I'm not if that's what 'they' are like, whoever 'they' are ! haha