The majority of Tauranga's business leaders have concerns about the return of elected members to Tauranga City Council next year.
More than half of local businesses suggest they have concerns, or are anxious about returning to a fully elected council in 2024.
This comes after Tauranga Business Chamber's March business straw poll, which saw 57 per cent of local business leaders admit their uncertainty when posed the question.
One third of businesses, 33 per cent, were happy to move forward with an elected council, and 10 per cent preferred not to say.
Business chamber chief executive Matt Cowley says there is a "strong sense" the city has moved forward under the appointed commissioners.
"People are nervous about potentially going back to the future," says Matt.
One respondent says Tauranga needs "councillors elected based on skills, rather than personalities and personal agendas".
About 62 per cent of respondents also support the council's plan to increase commercial rates to address the city's transport, housing and amenity issues. Approximately 30 per cent opposed the increases and 8 per cent preferred not to say.
"Businesses are overall happy to pay greater rates, as long as they are seeing tangible results in the right areas," says Matt.
On other concerns from local businesses, leaders reported the cooling economy, overall rising cost of business, and staff shortages as the three greatest risks to their business this year.
9 comments
Disgraceful
Posted on 10-03-2023 07:02 | By Angels
Business does not want democracy. But love us all to pay these huge salaries to unelected people.
why worry
Posted on 10-03-2023 08:26 | By Chookymac
This lot were sent here by Nanaia Mahuta and the City has never been in such a Shambles so to have an Election would at least put in people that we have elected to suit the Rate payers would have to be a plus
This guy should be gone
Posted on 10-03-2023 08:47 | By an_alias
You have no place pushing your ideas. Business has no place influencing ELECTIONS. What is urgent is your lack of understanding of democracy. You pushed lockdowns and everything that failed and now lets not have elections. What makes me nervous is how you lack any understanding of democracy it seems. NO TAX WITHOUT REPRESENTATION ?
Candidate requirements
Posted on 10-03-2023 10:37 | By tia
Here is a thought. Of 10 candidates, 6 should be from those who have good business acumen to be able to run a multi-million dollar organization and be appointed through an appointment process (and not by the government of the day) and 4 should be elected by the constituents. For far too long TCC have "one term wonders" who couldn't manage their weekly grocery bill let alone the council budget of $$$millions.
Cincerned
Posted on 10-03-2023 10:48 | By Kancho
Well as a ratepayer I'm currently concerned too. I also don't mind paying rates to see it spent wisely and to improve services. Not everyone can say that as it's a struggle to make ends meet already in spite of substantial rate rises in the last two hikes. However they are not spending on priorities but on frivolous unnecessary projects and to central government ideology. Also it's flying against democracy although not a perfect system its still the best we have. Stop the nonsense spending .
Lost his way.
Posted on 10-03-2023 10:56 | By Accountable
It would appear that the Chamber CEO is still harbouring the fact that he was not wanted on the Tauranga City Council by the far more educated electors who democratically voted him out. It also tells us that 57% of the Chamber members are not believers in democracy. I think the public should be able to see the questions the Chamber asked to get this abysmal result. 62% of the members obviously don't have a business in the CBD. This planned commercial rate rise will be the death knell of many CBD businesses and in fact these deaths probably started about the time the commissioners were appointed and all we have had is more Council expenditure, road closures and parking losses to add to the CBD's demise. The only way forward is to bring back a democratically elected Council and the sooner the better for everyone.
Speak for yourself
Posted on 10-03-2023 13:22 | By Otumoetai Resident
Matt Cowley speaks for nobody else but himself plus a few faceless people from his straw poll . Please be named if you agree with him. Most will be property developers in the pockets of TCC. Democracy is the backbone of any 1st world country not dictatorship by a few for the many. Politics everywhere is sadly driven by personality & agendas and not always by skill. Tauranga is no different. This is fear mongering at best designed to get control.
@an_alias and Angels
Posted on 10-03-2023 16:00 | By morepork
I agree with both of you. "Business people" don't feel the rising costs because they give themselves a raise, have businesses, and get an immediate 17% discount by reclaiming GST... It is "Business People" who Queen Anne patronises and she lines their pockets to ensure support. It is not "ordinary people" who'll make money out of the proposed grandiose projects like the 300 million CBD revamp that nobody wants or needs (other than Anne and a few "Business People"...) There are "small" Business People" who are probably closer to reality, but they are in similar boat as the rest of us. No matter WHO you are, if you don't want or value Democracy, your life is totally self-centred and you really shouldn't be living here. (Maybe you need a different island?... or maybe North Korea or Russia...where your wealth is not diluted by the masses)
The 4 must go
Posted on 10-03-2023 16:30 | By Astradaz
I am absolutely sure business leaders don't want a democratically elected council. Why would they? It's been a great spend up for the last couple of years. As a ratepayer I definitely do want democracy to be restored to Tauranga. It may be a bit messy, that happens with democracy. But it allows voice to the people. This wee gang of 4 is not beholden to the voice of the people. That was clear when they proceed with the museum. Now, with their secretive plans to upend the city's sports facilities and reserves, they lack a vestige of community concern.
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