Why should we bother?

With candidate nominations for the upcoming local body elections closed and the proliferation of election hoardings, advertisements and ‘vote for me’ flyers now dominating our space for the next couple of months; many of us will question why these people bother.
However, what we should really be asking ourselves is: why should we bother voting in the local government elections?
To most of us, local body elections hold a similar level of interest – and quite often a whole lot less – than the TV movie on a Saturday night.
New Zealand’s last local body elections, in 2007, attracted only a 44 percent voter turnout across the whole country. This figure was much worse in large metropolitan areas – like Auckland – where voter turnout dropped below 40 percent mark. The lowest voter turnout since the restructuring of local government back in 1989!
So why is it that people are not interested in local body elections; given the huge impact local councils have on our lives and on our communities?
It can be put down to two key factors: - ignorance as to what exactly councils’ do and general laziness.
While some people blame the calibre of candidates they are asked to choose from. One may have some passing sympathy for this point of view – especially when the nocturnal and financial behaviour by some of our local body representatives has left a lot to be desired – it is still a very poor excuse for us not to participate in the electoral process. It is also an insult to those soldiers who in past years went to war on our nation’s behalf and risked their lives so that we are now all free to vote how we want.
It’s often said that if people choose not to vote, then they should not complain about the outcome. However, as anyone who has worked in local government can confirm, that is just an adage. As people are only too quick to whinge about their local park, footpath, hall and cost of rates; even if they have never cast a vote in their lives!
And there in lies the rub. Despite all the claims about poor candidate quality, or protestations by people about lack of inspiration of who to vote for – the real problem behind such poor voter turnout, apart from laziness – is a complete lack of understanding about the role and function of local government in our lives and what services we actually get for our rates.
It is clear that the vast majority of people either do not know – or do not care – just how local government interacts with their local communities.
In a nutshell, regional councils manage broad environmental and other large-scale issues – including running regional parks. Meanwhile, district and city council provide services that mostly focus on land use, urban and community development. Some of the services provided by local councils include: local road and pipe networks (water supply and sewage disposal), rubbish collection, street lighting, public libraries, swimming pools and playgrounds.
However, one thing people do understand is rates and they are quick to complain about how expensive they are. But again, is this reality or ignorance?
No one likes paying rates, but do people really understand what kind of services they get for the amount they pay each year in rates each week – when compared to other costs? Figures provided by Rodney District Council, in its 2000-19 LTCCP, revealed that for the 2009/10 year, the average cost per household of rates was $39.75 a week. This compared to other weekly household expenses such as: power and heating $28.80; interest payments $75; insurance $39.30; eating out and ready to eat food $40 and – the real killer – government taxes at $392 per week!
Most would agree, on this analysis, that when compared to other costs and the services they get for them; local council rates are not that expensive.
So, I now know why I will be bothering to vote in the local body elections this year. Because I understand the impact local government plays in my life and I want to have my say on how it is run.