There is a growing outcry in Gisborne as rates soar and council debt spirals out of control. Many residents are frustrated that money is being poured into questionable projects while urgent infrastructure and basic services continue to be neglected.
One of the most controversial examples is the Grey Street “Streets for People” trial. Former councillor Tony Robinson initially questioned the project but later called it “a great idea,” urging residents to “soldier on” with it despite opposition. Yet, locals have described the changes as a “diabolical mess,” “less safe,” and even a “fiasco.” Protesters have pointed to hazards created by the new layout—such as illegal U-turns and narrowed lanes—while calling on the council to instead “fix our potholes.”
Across the district, council spending appears out of control. In playgrounds, perfectly sound equipment has been ripped out and replaced, sometimes with wooden structures that may deteriorate into safety hazards over time.
Nationwide, calls have been growing to cap council rates. Surely the same logic should apply to ballooning council debt?
The Taxpayers’ Union is campaigning across the country for accountability through its Ratepayer Protection Pledge, which it describes as “drawing a line in the sand between those mayoral and council candidates committed to standing with ratepayers and those who are not.”
The pledge asks every candidate to commit to:
- Opposing any measures that push rates, levies, and council charges beyond inflation and population growth.
- Supporting real transparency by publicly disclosing all council expenditure (*“armchair audit” and “open data”).
- Opposing unelected appointments to council committees with spending and regulatory powers.
With local elections happening now, the question remains: Have Gisborne residents had enough—and will they demand real change?
Remember – if you don’t VOTE YOU CAN’T COMPLAIN!!
