I believe a lot of the dissatisfaction with local government could be avoided if men and women stopped feeling powerless and attended to their rights.
If you have 'Fee Simple Title' on your property title it may interest you to know your rights instead if allowing council to act by default. Land purchased under Grant in Fee Simple Title is not purchased from the government of the day, but from the Majesty of the day, ie no statute of bylaw can tell you what to do unless you contract with council. There are four elements of such ownership: the purchase of any structures or buildings that are on the land; the right to build structures of any kind on the land; the right of ownership of all natural elements on the land; and the right to use the land in any manner.
No-one, including council, has ownership of any water on the land, but you do have the right to use water while it is on your land. You do not have the right to injure a neighbour's enjoyment and use of his property; nor the right to trespass on another's land without his permission. Councils are made up of men and women just like you. They have no power without your consent and they cannot lawfully tax what they do not own.
(I have documentary evidence to support what I say from LINZ.)
Y James, Tauranga.