Words from the Western Bay Mayor with James Denyer

I am committed to engaging with our community and want our council to be upfront and open about the issues that matter to you.

I want to share the ‘why’ behind decisions and be straight about what we can and can’t do. There will always be differences of opinion, but it’s important that the facts and trade-offs that underpin decisions are understood more widely than by just those around the council table.

This is the first piece in what will be a regular column, so let’s start with something that has been a hot topic recently.

We all value

I’ve heard you’re not happy with the changes to roadside mowing – I’m not happy about it either – so let’s unpick the issue and what’s happened in this space.

Tidy berms and clear sightlines don’t just make roads safer – they show that our towns are cared for. Keeping our streets tidy and safe is something we all value. It reflects pride in where we live and makes our towns welcoming.

To be clear, when we talk about roadside mowing, we mean the mowing of berms and medians along our roads – not reserves or parks. A key reason for the recent reduction in mowing frequency was the New Zealand Transport Agency significantly reducing the funding councils receive for local road maintenance, including vegetation control. This created a funding shortfall that meant council couldn’t deliver the previous level of service.

Specifically, the number of urban mows per year was reduced from 12 to six. Our staff wanted to keep costs within budget, but I acknowledge this hasn’t met the standard you expect.

Before Christmas

Elected members have heard clearly from the community that you want better, so we’re moving fast to address this. Another mow will be scheduled before Christmas to improve the appearance of urban areas for the holiday and visitor season, including events like our Santa parades.

Before Christmas, councillors will review mowing levels and consider options for providing additional mows on top of the budgeted six for the rest of this financial year. This could mean immediate changes, but any increase in mowing frequency would need to be funded – either by reallocating existing budgets or identifying new funding sources. Councillors will weigh up these options and their implications carefully, with a focus on what’s achievable and sustainable.

In February, as part of the Annual Plan process, we’ll look at longer-term settings for mowing and other transportation services. Any further agreed changes will take effect from July 1, 2026, when new rates are set. This will be a broader conversation with the community about what level of service is wanted, and what that means for rates or trade-offs in other areas. We’re committed to being open and listening to your views.

Committed 

While funding changes have created challenges, we’re committed to finding solutions. This could include reviewing how our services are contracted – all options are on the table.

I also want to clarify that mowing in our reserves has not changed. Our teams are working to maintain the agreed service levels, but it’s always a challenge for contractors to keep up with the spring flush that comes with warm and wet conditions.

Tidy towns and pride of place matter – I want people to feel proud of where they live, proud when visitors pass through or come to stay, and proud of Council for delivering the essentials well.

*A NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) spokesperson responded: “The level of funding available through the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) for different activities is determined by the priorities set out in the Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS).

"With the GPS prioritising funding for road maintenance operations and for state highway pothole prevention, at a time when there is a finite amount of funding available and increasing demands on the roading network, councils and NZTA have changed the level of services provided for vegetation control on local roads as well as on state highways.

"As the road controlling authority for state highways, NZTA has also had to adopt a more focused and targeted approach to weed control, which means the frequency of our mowing operations has reduced from previous years”.