The following outcomes are the results from a recent survey of election candidates by income equity group Closing the Gap’s recent survey of local body election candidates across the region.
Summary of Responses
Question 1 – Inequality
Wealth inequality and income inequality are the two issues of concern although income inequality is more frequently assessed because it is easier to measure.
What is your view of these inequalities in relation to how the organisation you are a candidate for might address them?
Question 2 – Public transport
Subsidising public transport would help address income inequality by providing cheap/zero-cost alternative transport and would address wealth inequality by enabling better access to other public services.
It would decrease the number of cars on our roads improving transport for all. If public transport is subsidised, who do you think should benefit?
Question 3 – Living Wage
The living wage (2019) is $21.15/hr and is calculated on a national basis quantifying an hourly wage that a family of four requires to live based on one partner working full time and the other partner working half time.
The current minimum wage is $17.70. How do you think the living wage should be implemented by your council?
Question 4 – Living Wage
Do you think councils should be proactive in promoting the living wage to other organisations in the community?
Question 5 – Social Housing
Social housing is housing owned by councils and rented to tenants. How much should councils be involved with social housing?
Question 6 – Community Housing
Community housing is housing provided by the community via whatever mechanisms work for the community and with the object of the housing being owned by the occupiers.
The one family, one plot of ground kiwi concept appears to be diminishing and new international trends are emerging in our landscape with community models. How much should councils be involved with community housing initiatives?
Question 7 – Rating System
In 1879 Henry George published Progress and Poverty in which he pointed out that, perversely, poverty increased with increasing progress and that the cause of this was the accumulation of unearned wealth based on the increasing value of monopoly ownership of land.
His solution was land value tax. What is your position on progressively moving rates which are currently based on capital value to rates based on land value?
Question 8 – Rating System
Some rating systems (e.g. the Tauranga rating system) include a uniform annual general charge (UAGC) which has the general effect of ratepayers of lower socio-economic status subsidising the unearned wealth accumulation of wealthier ratepayers.
What is your position on phasing out the UAGC where it applies?
Question 9 – Wellbeing
Improving standards for children, Maori and Pasifika, Mental Health, infrastructure, and environment are at the heart of Central government’s 2019 Wellbeing Budget.
How can councils support the thrust of Central Government’s budget?
Question 10 – Knowledge of Council Staff Salaries
Many people are interested to know the range of salaries and wages paid by Council as well as the numbers of employees in the various wages and salary bands.
Do you support the regular publication of councils’ wages and salary bands with strict adherence to band width which may identify the income of individual staff members at both the low and high end of the spectrum?
Intentions of the Closing the Gap survey
You can read more about the purpose and goals behind the Closing the Gap survey here.
Read the specific responses from candidates for: