News from Wairarapa Councillor Gary McPhee

Opinions are like belly buttons. Every one has one. They are all slightly different, but the fact is they are belly buttons.

The rule makers have decided to change how the game is played and some of the people at the table, playing at the invitation of their respective communities, are running around like headless chickens putting their opinions out there before the bean counters and sages they have asked (at no small cost) have imparted their wisdom (opinion).

I believe the changes that will be made in or about October next year (Local Government Reform) will cause us all to make one of the biggest decisions of our lives.

I'm not being melodramatic, this is really important! And everyone needs to be involved.

It is very complicated and local govt has been perceived as being boring. A lot of what they do is process and procedure and can definitely be that way.

I know everyone is busy and we elect people to make decisions on our behalf, but please take some time and think, read and discuss this issue with family friends and co workers.

I think you will find the politics, personalities and agendas very intriguing. It leaves Coronation Street and Game of Thrones for dead. So please take an interest and tell your elected representatives what you think.

The way things are at this minute I have a point of view and when I have all the information from all the sages I will let you have it. Just remember the rule makers can change the rules any time they like but every three years we all get a chance to change the rule makers. That’s my opinion, now here are some facts:

Greater Wellington staff treated the best part of 1000ha of erosion prone land this winter.

About 450ha of hill country pasture was planted with 28,000 three metre tall poplar trees. These trees are planted at 12 to 15 metre spacings and their roots spread quickly and bind the soil together. About 65 trees per hectare is enough to stop a hillside slipping, while keeping a healthy pasture cover for stock. The beauty of using a 3m poplar tree is that they can get established without removing stock from the paddock. So the farmer is protecting his soil without losing production.

Another 430ha of hill country was planted with 500,000 pine seedlings in a joint initiative between Greater Wellington and the Government to build up New Zealand’s carbon stock. The land planted in pines is usually too steep or has too little soil to be productive for grazing, so excluding stock from these areas isn’t much of a loss for the farmer. It’s good for our environment and good for Wairarapa’s economy.

When it comes to Greater Wellington, a lot of the time they aren’t sexy. To tell the truth they are pretty boring. But the work they do really makes a difference to how our beautiful valley looks and operates.