Letter to the Editor - Tuesday March 19, 2013

Keep Kaikohe

I wrote a letter to the editor two weeks back, and hoped someone from the Kaikohe/Hokianga Western Ward would pick up on the issue I raised of the current Mayor presenting a plan that did not show the main body of FNDC offices at Kaikohe.

Mayor Brown implied in the Bay Chronicle, in reply to my letter (March 7), that if we do not vote his way on the unitary authority all service centres may go to Whangarei.

Regardless of whether the Far North is amalgamated with Whangarei or stands by itself, Kaikohe land is much cheaper than Kerikeri or Whangarei. The Kaikohe land is already owned by council, so why not keep the offices of the FNDC, or by chance any future unitary authority, here in Kaikohe!

Internet connections for communication now mean there is no disadvantage for developers to deal with a Kaikohe base.

In my view the previous move of some council offices to privately-owned premises in Kerikeri have come at enormous expense for dubious, if any, gain. The expense of the rental will of course need to eventually impact on us the ratepayers.

Hokianga and Kerikeri are both a relatively short distance from Kaikohe, and work for a number of people at the FNDC. I understand there is a tax relief provision available for any staff travelling some distance to work which is cost-neutral to the employer, reducing location issues even further.

Any shift of offices to Kerikeri or further afield would mean increased travel time for a Hokianga worker, and stress on families. Kaikohe is central, and that is where the offices should stay.

DAVID R WILLIAMS

Pakanae