Stuart Matthews – 2025
Stuart Matthews – Cambridge Ward
1. Operational Deficits and Borrowing (maximum 100 words)
Waipā is currently running operational deficits over three years, which reduces the annual rates increase by around 4%. To fund this gap, the council is borrowing an average of $8 million per year.
a. Were you aware of this funding strategy?
b. Do you agree with the approach of borrowing to fund operational shortfalls as prudent rather than raising rates to fully fund current operations? Why or why not?
1a.
Yes.
1b.
No. Borrowing is for investing in assets, not paying the bills.
2. Ahu Ake – Waipā Community Spatial Plan (maximum 100 words)
The council has adopted the “Ahu Ake – Waipā Community Spatial Plan” as a long-term vision to guide growth and infrastructure planning.
a. Do you support the direction and priorities set out in Ahu Ake?
b. Given that the plan proposes a number of costly studies how would you ensure that it remains relevant, affordable, and aligned with community needs over time?
Broadly, yes.
2b.
You can’t make good decisions without information, so the public needs to get used to the idea of ‘studies’. Council staff need to keep studies under control, in scope and on budget. It is not a static plan and shouldn’t be treated as such. If situations change the plan should be adapted. We should not get sucked into the central government fad for ‘radical reform’ or repealing and replacing ideas because of some off-the-shelf ideology. I am a small ‘c’ conservative all the way with this kind of planning.
3. Cambridge Connections (maximum 100 words)
The Cambridge Connections project reset proposes a transport network realignment and new infrastructure development around Cambridge, with potential long-term cost across the district and land use implications as well as extensive consultation.
a. Do you support the scale and scope of the Cambridge Connections project as currently proposed?
b. How should costs and impacts be managed to ensure fairness to ratepayers and affected communities?
3a.
There are some hard yards ahead to restore public faith in the Cambridge Connections project. When the public are onside I might be too.
3b.
Costs will have to be managed through sensible debt for asset development. In the case of the bridge for Cambridge we need to start getting used to the idea of a PPP building it and operating it as a toll road.
Managing impact is about direct one-to-one communication with affected businesses and other parties. Development is necessary for the public good, but it can’t just trample over people’s livelihoods. There has to be community buy-in with what is happening in their area.
4. Council Expenditure and Core Services (maximum 100 words)
a. In your view, is Waipā District Council currently limiting its spending to basic or essential services?
b. If elected, would you support a review of current expenditure with a view to reducing non-essential costs and/or staffing levels?
4a.
No. Is $700k+ on a clock refurb basic or essential?
4b.
Yes. It will be brutal. The public should expect a reduction in service levels and an increase in fees. People will be reluctant to face this reality, but recessions are hard.
5. Urban Intensification and Tier 1 Status (maximum 50 words)
Waipā must now enable greater housing intensification and density under new rules.
What principles should guide where and how higher-density housing is developed?
Big question for 50 words. Dare I say common sense? Replacing old housing stock with warm, dry townhouse terraces seems a sensible compromise.
6. Māori Ward Representation (maximum 50 words)
Waipā established a Māori ward to enhance Māori representation at the council table.
Do you support the continuation of the Māori ward beyond the current term?
Yes. Anything to bring a diversity of viewpoints to council. Youth ward anyone… ?
7. Community Boards (maximum 50 words)
Do you believe community boards effectively represent community views and provide valuable advice to council? Would you support any changes to their role or powers?
Ditch them. They are local democracy’s vestigial appendix. Invest instead in councillors who actively represent their ward.
8. Te Ara Wai (maximum 50 words)
What do you think the council should do with the old Bunnings building in Te Awamutu, which it bought to house Te Ara Wai Museum?
Paint “FOR SALE” on the side of it.
9. Future of Lake Karāpiro Domain (maximum 50 words)
Lake Karāpiro Domain is often referred to as Waipā’s “jewel in the crown”. The site is currently being reviewed under the Reserves Act 1977, and future options may include increased commercial development such as hotel or motel accommodation.
Hamilton City Council now charges outsiders to visit the Gardens, should Waipā do something similar at Karāpiro?
Do you support further commercial development at Lake Karāpiro Domain and/or a visitors’ levy?
I’d approach changes here with caution. There’s no going back and sometimes the charm of a place is in its simplicity.
10. Finally, what is your vision for the Waipā district? (maximum 250 words)
I’d like people to be able to afford to live here. I’d like people to find work that isn’t an agonising commute away from home and I’d like their kids to walk to school. I’d like those people to be happy and well. I’d like to see inspired locals creating great businesses that contribute to the community, not just more vape shops. I’d like our natural resources to be treasured and cared for, not just used and ignored. I’d like the thin grey line of volunteers that keep our community ticking over to get greater acknowledgement of their work, even though they down-play it themselves. And I’d like local charities to receive greater financial support from local people.
That’s a big wish list. But as a community we need to acknowledge that where we live is not perfect. There are plenty of challenges, some of which the council can tackle directly. Others will have to be taken on by the community as a whole. You have to make the community you want to live in, no one else is going to do it for you.
