Rating decisions edging closer

 

Just a small group of a dozen members of the Mangawhai Residents & Ratepayers Association (MRRA) attended the Whangarei District Court last Friday to view the live telecast from Christchurch of the hearing of final submissions in relation to court proceedings between the MRRA and Kaipara District Council (KDC) over the ongoing rates issue.

Following Justice Heath’s interim report last month on the February court proceedings, this hearing gave both parties opportunity to examine and argue, in detail, matters arising from the interim decision ac-cording to their respective positions.

Submissions centered around the Validation Act by which Justice Heath ruled that rates set were legal and should be paid. This view was upheld by counsel for the Kaipara District Council. However the MRRA representative argued otherwise given that the rates, both current and historical, were the result of a financial situation that was illegally undertaken by the Council of the day.

The other major issue was the awarding of indemnity costs. While these were award-ed to the MRRA in the interim judgement, the issue was debated as to the validity of total costs in respect of what were seen as accrued by the MRRA who initially instigated the court action. Having this additional information as interpreted by the parties will then allow Justice Heath to arrive at his final written decision on the matter which he is hopeful of delivering next Wednesday and which will bring the saga closer to a conclusion.

No doubt this will then involve further close examination by both parties as to any future course of action.