18 Sep 2012

Kaipara ratepayers sceptical about commissioners

10:53 am on 18 September 2012

Ratepayers are sceptical about whether commissioners appointed at the Kaipara District Council will turn things around.

Four commissioners were appointed after councillors ran up debts of more than $80 million and unlawfully levied at least $17 million worth of rates.

On Monday, they met with ratepayers to explain what they will be doing and to ask what the community wants from them.

The chair of the Kaipara Citizens and Ratepayers group, Ron Manderson, says it was a promising meeting, but it is still too early to give the commissioners full support.

The chair of the Mangawhai Ratepayers and Residents Association, Bruce Rogan, says he told them four people acting like a council cannot fix the problem.

Mr Rogan and Mr Manderson say residents will continue refusing to pay their rates until they have full confidence in the running of the council.