Glenfield Ratepayers & Residents Association (Inc)

Dear Gwen,

I implore you to show real leadership it this crucial time.

Ratepayers in Rodney District and North Shore City have until next Wednesday, 6th August, to pay their ARC rates in full or by Direct Debit ONLY over ten months.

I have been deluged with calls, yesterday and today, asking 'What shall I do?' " How much should I pay?'.

You have so far failed to respond to my fax to you in Queenstown. That is not leadership.

Real leadership demands that you face up to the fact that you have a growing rebellion on your hands. You must face this basic fact.

How are you going to deal with people who do NOT pay in full and who do NOT pay by direct debit?

The people want to know. I want to know.

I know what the legislation says. But what do you say Gwen?

Are you going to penalise them all by slapping ten per cent on to the outstanding amount?

The legislation says you may. It does say you MUST. I know that many people are paying you something - others are not going to pay at all until the ARC comes to its senses.

Some of those that are paying something are paying only ten percent -by cheque direct to the ARC, by credit card, by payment at a Post Shop etc etc. I know this because they are ringing me up and telling me.

Others are sending in ten cheques - with nine of them post-dated. What are doing with those? Send them back? Try to cash them? What are you going to do?

I know that there are claims that the ARC has already received 60% of Zone 1 - North shore and Rodney. But that is 60% of the money due. But is it? Or does it include just 10% of the cash from people who have signed up to your direct debit scheme?

Make no mistake some people have only paid out of fear, after those disgraceful comments that the ARC would sell their house from under them.

Most people accept that they must pay their rates. What they expect is that those rates should be fair and equitable - and they expect some reasonable options for paying in instalments.

Gwen, I urge you to accept that mistakes have been made - and some poor judgements have been made.

If those mistakes and judgements have been made in good faith there is still time for you and your colleagues to put things right.

Please call a review meeting - and meanwhile accept payment however it may be offered, and do not penalise people for making a reasonable protest.

I am determined that the people's will shall prevail.

Please respond as urgently as the situation demands.

Yours in hope,

David Thornton For The REGIONAL RATEPAYERS REBELLION

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