You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald from Newstalk ZB.

You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald from Newstalk ZB.

You know when the governments announced yesterday that it wants to have a binding referendum on a four year parliamentary term here in New Zealand. If you are listening yesterday and you would have heard me say, I'm all for it, all for it, And it wasn't the first time I've said that. I either have been saying it for a while now that I am totally against the idea that we do the same with local councils. In fact, I'm so against it that it could be enough for me, or could be enough to put me off voting in favor of the four year parliamentary term. That's how strongly I feel about it. Four year terms. You know, it's something that the outfit representing most councils has been wandering for a while now. This is local Government New Zealand, which at the moment's headed by Sealem mess Sam Broughton and christ which mayor. Film Major jumped on the bandwagon too. He also thinks that a four year term would be great for counsels.

You know when the governments announced yesterday that it wants to have a binding referendum on a four year parliamentary term here in New Zealand. If you are listening yesterday and you would have heard me say, I'm all for it, all for it, And it wasn't the first time I've said that. I either have been saying it for a while now that I am totally against the idea that we do the same with local councils. In fact, I'm so against it that it could be enough for me, or could be enough to put me off voting in favor of the four year parliamentary term. That's how strongly I feel about it. Four year terms. You know, it's something that the outfit representing most councils has been wandering for a while now. This is local Government New Zealand, which at the moment's headed by Sealem mess Sam Broughton and christ which mayor. Film Major jumped on the bandwagon too. He also thinks that a four year term would be great for counsels.

So why is that, Phil, I actually think it's a good idea myself. With three years, you're only just first year, you're getting your feet under the table, you do one year's sort of work, and then you're quietly making sure you can do it again. So I think I think four would be good. I really do.

So why is that, Phil, I actually think it's a good idea myself. With three years, you're only just first year, you're getting your feet under the table, you do one year's sort of work, and then you're quietly making sure you can do it again. So I think I think four would be good. I really do.

Phil Major. Phil Major might feel that way, and local government New Zealand might feel that way. But I tell you what, it is the last thing we want for our local councils. And I'll tell you why. The reason I'm comfortable with central government getting a four year term, well, actually there are a couple of reasons.

Phil Major. Phil Major might feel that way, and local government New Zealand might feel that way. But I tell you what, it is the last thing we want for our local councils. And I'll tell you why. The reason I'm comfortable with central government getting a four year term, well, actually there are a couple of reasons.

Actually.

Actually.

First and foremost, I don't think three years is enough time for governments to get stuff done. I thought that for a long time now, and I still do. The other reason why I'm good with central governments getting an extra year in power is that governments generally generally pretty functional. That's because if you're in government, you have to toe the party line, you know, I know, David seen more on Winston Peter's They test out a bit at times, but that's MMP and it's what coalition governments are all about. But generally with governments, they keep it together, don't they, And they stick together for the full term counsels though completely different story just the other Just the other day, we had a counselor in christ Church accusing the mayor of lacking leadership. We've got factions around that table at christ Church Council and I don't imagine other councils are any different. Why on earth would you want to drag that out for an extra year? You know, how often do you hear film major for example, and his supporters lamenting the fact that he doesn't have enough like minded counselors around the table with him, and how that impedes him from making any meaningful change. You hear, you hear it all the time. It sounds like a bloomin nightmare. So why would you want to give that lot an extra year? Answer is you wouldn't. Whereas with central government ministers, for example, if they do a hopeless job, they either lose their portfolios or they quit mayor can't do any of that. A mayor of any council is stuck with her whoever we vote, and her vote for in her wherever we put into council alongside them. Wellington another brilliant example of a dysfunctional council. Why would people there want to lumber their city with that lineup for another year. That wouldn't. Aside from the fact that most councilors and most councils find it hard to get on with each other, the other thing that makes local government in less need of a four year term than central government is that councils they're actually much I'll give them credit, councils are actually much better than central government when it comes to long term planning. Now, not to get too bogged down and council speak, but your local council it has these ten year plans. Central governments they don't. So while film major talking there about four years given you more time to do stuff, with councils, you don't have the wholest bowldless canceling of stuff that you can get when there's a change of government. At the council, there's a plan in place, and after the election you just have a new lot overseeing that plan. So this argument that councils need more time to get stuff done, it doesn't wash with me, unlike governments who do need more time, because governments come in and they change policies and they do things like cancel ferry contracts, the disruption can be huge, think back to eighty four with labor and they need more time, if anything, to clean up the mess they can create when they're first elected. So for me, the differences between central government and local government are huge, and thinking that they both need to be given four year terms, I think that's nonsense. And as I say, if council's getting a four year term, or if councils getting four year terms is the byproduct of central government getting four year terms, then I'll be voting no a rooferendum.

First and foremost, I don't think three years is enough time for governments to get stuff done. I thought that for a long time now, and I still do. The other reason why I'm good with central governments getting an extra year in power is that governments generally generally pretty functional. That's because if you're in government, you have to toe the party line, you know, I know, David seen more on Winston Peter's They test out a bit at times, but that's MMP and it's what coalition governments are all about. But generally with governments, they keep it together, don't they, And they stick together for the full term counsels though completely different story just the other Just the other day, we had a counselor in christ Church accusing the mayor of lacking leadership. We've got factions around that table at christ Church Council and I don't imagine other councils are any different. Why on earth would you want to drag that out for an extra year? You know, how often do you hear film major for example, and his supporters lamenting the fact that he doesn't have enough like minded counselors around the table with him, and how that impedes him from making any meaningful change. You hear, you hear it all the time. It sounds like a bloomin nightmare. So why would you want to give that lot an extra year? Answer is you wouldn't. Whereas with central government ministers, for example, if they do a hopeless job, they either lose their portfolios or they quit mayor can't do any of that. A mayor of any council is stuck with her whoever we vote, and her vote for in her wherever we put into council alongside them. Wellington another brilliant example of a dysfunctional council. Why would people there want to lumber their city with that lineup for another year. That wouldn't. Aside from the fact that most councilors and most councils find it hard to get on with each other, the other thing that makes local government in less need of a four year term than central government is that councils they're actually much I'll give them credit, councils are actually much better than central government when it comes to long term planning. Now, not to get too bogged down and council speak, but your local council it has these ten year plans. Central governments they don't. So while film major talking there about four years given you more time to do stuff, with councils, you don't have the wholest bowldless canceling of stuff that you can get when there's a change of government. At the council, there's a plan in place, and after the election you just have a new lot overseeing that plan. So this argument that councils need more time to get stuff done, it doesn't wash with me, unlike governments who do need more time, because governments come in and they change policies and they do things like cancel ferry contracts, the disruption can be huge, think back to eighty four with labor and they need more time, if anything, to clean up the mess they can create when they're first elected. So for me, the differences between central government and local government are huge, and thinking that they both need to be given four year terms, I think that's nonsense. And as I say, if council's getting a four year term, or if councils getting four year terms is the byproduct of central government getting four year terms, then I'll be voting no a rooferendum.

For more from Category Mornings with John McDonald, listen live to news Talks at be Christchurch from nine am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio

For more from Category Mornings with John McDonald, listen live to news Talks at be Christchurch from nine am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio