North Island Councillors Respond to Palmerston North Mayor's Interview on Inter-Regional Collaboration

The Customer & The Constituent has received a veritable flood of feedback regarding Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith’s sentiments on the increasing need for inter-regional collaboration.

All contributions were well worthy of publication, and I have published as many as I could reasonably fit into a single, composite article. You can read the original ‘Palmy Mayor’ interview here.

Is It Time to More Proactively Pursue Inter-Regional Collaboration in Local Government?

Napier City’s Deputy Mayor, Cr Annette Brosnan, writes:

"Inter-regional collaboration is an area I’ve long believed offers untapped potential for stronger local government leadership, particularly across the Lower North Island, where we share so many of the same opportunities and challenges.

"In my view, collaboration between councils must go beyond simply shared services and procurement, to genuine strategic alignment – whether across climate resilience, housing growth, infrastructure planning or regional economic development.

"When we get that right, we create real scale, strengthen our voice with central government, and provide better value to our communities.

"However, to achieve this meaningfully and sustainably, I believe we need a fundamentally better funding model for local government – such as we see in many other Western countries: one that enables long-term, place-based investment.

"Just as crucial is leadership: people who are genuinely willing to build relationships and trust across Council boundaries. Without that commitment, the structure alone won't deliver."

Note to readers: In late July, I’ll be interviewing Cr Brosnan for a deeper dive into the points she’s raised in this brief commentary.

Napier City’s Mayor, Cr Kirsten Wise, writes:

"Collaboration between local governments is not only timely, it’s essential - particularly as we face increasing infrastructure demands, climate challenges, and the need to deliver better outcomes for our communities within constrained resources.

"When Councils work together, we can pool expertise, reduce duplication, and speak with a stronger collective voice, especially in dealings with central Government.

"This is certainly something we’ve been reflecting on here in Hawke’s Bay."

Note to readers: I also hope to interview Mayor Wise in the not-too-distant future, to expand on these observations from her time thus far as Mayor - and looking forward into her region’s future.

Mayor James Denyer of Western Bay of Plenty District Council commented:

"I believe that collaboration – both within a region and between regions is essential.

"If we are to achieve the best possible outcomes for ratepayers, strategically-speaking, we have to take every opportunity to reduce the costs of projects and other investments, and make ratepayer funds stretch further.

"Certainly, Local Government is and must be focused on localism. But this absolutely does not preclude having the wisdom to train our eyes to see a bigger picture, so we can identify opportunities to work on wider initiatives that mutually benefit communities across Council boundaries. "

Hamilton City’s Deputy Mayor, Cr Angela O’Leary (Chair, Infrastructure & Transport):

"I do think local government is on the eve of major change, and it’s going to have to include amalgamation, especially on the eve of the waters reform.

"But it’s going to be a hard task for many."

Cr Angela Dalton of Auckland Council, writes:

"In terms of inter-regional collaboration between local governments, absolutely this is something I support. It makes strong economic sense for the country as a whole.

"If egos could be set aside, we might see regions flourish as boundary lines on a map merge, when strategic, in an effort to maximise infrastructure delivery outcomes, create jobs, and improve environments and 'people spaces'.

"I was in the Southern Rural Strategy Working Group for Auckland Council and the discussion about how important it is for us to look South towards Hamilton and Tauranga in terms of connection with rail, jobs, aligned infrastructure, population transfer and jobs was a key topic.

"I think what’s important to give consideration to, is that just because a city is the “largest on the map”, it doesn’t mean that, by default, it should always act as the centre point of decision-making. We have to recognise that within the concept of inter-regional collaboration, there’s a balance to be struck in considering the unique characteristics and priorities of each region.

"This sensitivity becomes especially important when a large Council like Auckland looks to smaller City or regional councils as partners in any specific collaborative effort or project."

Rotorua Lakes District Councillor Don Paterson, wrote:

"In my opinion, central Government has - through its various statements and actions - already signalled that the days of independent local authorities are numbered . . . or, at least, the amount of these that currently exist.

"Changes to the Resource Management Act and the introduction of Local Water Done Well in themselves are likely, over time, to result in a significant reduction of local voices and influence around the greater decision-making table . . . whatever form that “table” eventually takes.

"Therefore, my colleagues and I at Rotorua Lakes have voted to investigate the possibility of collaborating with neighbouring Councils, most notably the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, to form our own Unitary Authority.

"Better to lead it ourselves, than to have it done to us . . . again, in my opinion."

Nandor Tanczos, Councillor, Whakatane District Council, writes:

"New Zealand’s largely centralised political system means its local government sector is both underfunded (as a comparative share of overall government spending) and under-utilised in terms of provision of public services.

"Building strategic partnerships through inter-regional collaboration at the local government level, and through local government as a vehicle, certainly offers opportunities to address the service delivery imbalance in some measure – as well as increasing the efficiency of services.

"But “scale”, in its own right, is not a magical solution to all the problems Councils face – and a blanket approach based upon it shouldn’t be hailed as the proverbial silver bullet. Available empirical data on the benefits of scale when it comes to local government services, is mixed – and the other side of the coin is the inevitably, to some degree, of a loss of local decision-making in inter-regional collaborations.

"Smaller councils can often be the loser when collaborating with larger districts and cities, so it’s about taking a strategic, rather than a wholesale, approach – and applying it to the right things, at the right time, through the right structures.

"Local Government should also be mindful of other potential collaborations, such as with Iwi Māori."

Waikato District Councillor Mike Keir commented:

"I support inter-regional collaboration if it can be achieved in a constructive manner.

"I am aware of some very good collaborative initiatives by Councils around the country – and it’s a pity we don’t get to hear about these.

"Timaru, with its 'ride call' initiative, that reduces the draw on buses, provides one such example. The bus service provider runs the bus services from Christchurch – but Timaru has found it more cost-effective to have established a ride call-up service. Very enterprising!

"Given the public transport costs we are facing here in the Waikato (which is a logistically difficult region to service), why aren’t we investigating options like this?

"I have found LGNZ to be pretty useless as both a vehicle for inter-regional collaboration and as a lobby group for the public sector – and, frankly, I would favour Waikato District exiting this organisation and working constructively with other like-minded Councils on key issues like transport, waste management, waters, funding and rating.

"Our existing local government model is in serious trouble and needs major reform. However, the last round of reform discussions in early 2023 achieved absolutely nothing. Not one thing. I find that incredible – and I resolutely believe we need to keep revisiting this until we kick some real and worthwhile goals on behalf of ratepayers."

Tauranga City Councillor Marten Rozeboom writes:

"As a Councillor on Tauranga City Council, I agree that each region must strive to work more closely with other regions where opportunities exist to do so.

"Each local authority should be working hard to achieve the improvement of, and addition to, its infrastructure base, where such infrastructure is fundamental to business growth, to attract higher-paid employment, and to enable housing growth e.g. through new roading networks.

"Speaking from a Tauranga-specific perspective, as a high-growth region we have people who travel to and from Tauranga for work every day – so it makes good economic sense to pursue the enhancement of opportunities through inter-regional collaboration.

"I support any conversation between local authorities that promotes better use of resources and greater efficiency in the use of ratepayer funds."

Hamilton City Councillor, Andrew Bydder, writes:

I agree with Waikato District Council's Mike Keir. We need collaboration, not amalgamation.

This means retaining local identity and representation, but - where practical and efficient - some Councils' services can be amalgamated. For example, each Council has its own library system with its own management hierarchy. Yet, all libraries already share books through a national inter-loan system. So why not have a national library organisation? Councillors are not experts in library management, so offer no value in terms of oversight and governance in that function. Having specialists in charge makes sense, and a single management layer would mean cost savings.

Hamilton City Council has 28 different business units, which means it is an inefficient conglomeration of small organisations. It does not get the advantage of economies of scale. Building consents and dog registration operate under national legislation, so that is how they should be managed. Planning, tourism, and civil defence should be regional functions, because they're clearly region-specific.

We can reduce the size and complexity of councils by offloading some functions, while keeping local community services, parks, arts, and roads. This clear distinction is important because actual, full-blown amalgamation of Councils risks smaller populations being drowned out by larger centres, and that is unacceptable.

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Massey’s Vet ‘Hospital’ Staffed by Unqualified Juniors Administering Drugs At Will, Committing Serious Animal Cruelty, Falsifying Diagnoses, Records & Coercing 'Euthanasia'

by Jordan Kelly • 15 March 2026

Editor’s Conclusion : Unqualified. Unsupervised. Unaccountable. And Still Accredited.

UPDATED 10.3.26: WAITING, MASSEY . . . Are You Going to Comply with Your Legally Required Information-Release Obligations?

by Jordan Kelly • 10 March 2026

UPDATED: 10.3.26 Will This Badly Behaving Institution Finally Allow the Full Truth to Be Revealed?

FOLLOW THE MONEY: The Compromised Veterinary Regulatory & Accreditation 'System'

by Jordan Kelly • 8 March 2026

Hidden in Plain Sight: Unashamed Conflicts of Interest to Make Your Head Spin

IN PROGRESS: How Massey 'Training' Produces the Low Vet Care Standards & Outright Contempt NZ Pet Owners Have to Tolerate

by Jordan Kelly • 4 March 2026

Time for Change : New Zealand's Pet Parents Say NO MORE to the Poor Standards, Compromised Care & Outright Contempt We Put Up With from the 'Products' of the Massey Veterinary Degree Factory

MASSEY VETS FALSIFY RECORDS: POLICE REPORT FILED

by Jordan Kelly • 27 February 2026

Readers following the coverage of my attempts to get to the bottom of what happened to my beloved little papillon, Harry, with whom I was extraordinarily closely bonded, will know that: (A) The rot in Massey University’s Companion Animal “Hospital” (CAH) runs deep. (B) Honesty and transparency is not their policy. Denial, dismissal, stonewalling, legal threats and intimidation are. (C) Animals aren’t safe there, with cruelty embedded in “care”, and your property (as your pet legally is) not considered your property at all, as far as Massey, its CAH staff and management are concerned. Your pet is theirs ; to do with as they please, according to their mindset and their modus operandi. And if that involves catastrophic levels of unauthorised, contraindicated, convenience sedation to facilitate their use of your pet in monetised student video collections (including on private cell phones, and to which you will be given no access), this too, according to Massey, is its own God-given right and “best practice” Standard Operating Procedure. (D) “Informed Consent” has a very different meaning in the Massey playbook to that which is generally deemed its accepted definition. (E) “Accountability” is a foreign concept and not one with which they have any intention of becoming acquainted. (F) Laws – including those governing animal welfare, property conversion and more – are not only optional, in Massey’s case, they simply don’t apply. In fact, they appear blissfully ignorant of them according to my (and Harry's) experience. You know all that. You’ve read about it here , here , here , here , here , here , here , here and in most of my other now 30+ articles covering the numerous different sub-atrocities within the overall atrocity that was the demise and disposal of my precious little Harry. Actually, "atrocious" doesn't come anywhere near to being an adequate adjective. Despite having been a professional writer since I was 16 and having upwards of 25 published books under my belt, I don't actually have an adjective that's adequate for the pure evil that was perpetrated upon Harry . . . and, by extension, me . There is not one word or one phrase that can sufficiently convey the depth and breadth of the sheer, unadulterated wickedness that festers without restraint within the walls of Massey University's Companion Animal "Hospital". What you, my readers (or those of you not on Massey's massive legal team payroll) didn’t yet know – because I didn’t yet know – is that record and evidence tampering (which, for any other New Zealand citizen would attract jail time of up to 10 years under the Crimes Act 1961 Section 258 (Altering document with intent to deceive) or Section 260 (Falsifying registers) , and/or a $10,000 fine under the Privacy Act Section 212(2)(b) - appears also to be included in the “we’re exempt” culture of Massey and its veterinary “hospital” staff. Note to Readers: The above laws aren't some hypothetical, bottom-drawer, dusty old legal tracts in archaic library textbooks. They're real, "living" laws that apply to every individual in our country. And today, they are being made to apply to Dr Stephanie Rigg and her "colleagues" who falsified Harry's records to create a cover-up of what they did to him . . . and to me. I will, duly, see Dr Rigg and her associates in Court. Dissecting the Cover-Up: Massey’s Metadata of Deception But back to what readers do know for a moment: You’ll know that I’ve been in the battle of battles for the past two months to extract Harry’s full records (or anything approaching them) from Massey’s Legal and Governance department. HOWEVER . . . there was one thing I hadn’t known how to decipher that they actually had finally drip-fed to me. It was File Name: Patient Change Log (Field-Level Audit) . I’ve been learning a lot about veterinary science, record-keeping, and law in general lately. Not because I wanted to. But because if you want to figure out how deep the rot really runs at Massey, you kind of have to. So I’ve learned a bit about how to decipher clinical metadata. Just e nough to realise that this Patient Change Log (Field-Level Audit) is exactly where the digital fingerprints of a cover-up are hiding. Despite the fact that this document has as much redacted as it shows (probably more), with ALL staff names and positions blacked out, for example -I still found four distinct “smoking gun” entries in these otherwise heavily-redacted metadata logs. BIG. FAT. SMOKING. GUNS. that amounted to one undeniable overall conclusion: This document isn’t a clinical record so much as it’s a literal crime scene . There were already so many dodgy inconsistencies in the few items I'd managed to pull out of Massey to that point (as I've documented in various of my preceding articles). But this document is where, undeniably, the bodies are buried. You just need to know which clod of dirt to look under. Hidden in Plain Sight . . . In A Little Thing Called the Metadata (That the Average Pet Owner Wouldn't Even Know Existed ) There are four hidden but key findings demonstrating that the entire timeline of Harry’s “experience” in that hellhole were was orchestrated, and the sudden "neurological event/decline" exit strategy planned for him were a total fabrication. And that fabrication had a start time. (For this start time we will initially revert our focus back to Massey's previously-supplied "Clinical Summary" (in all its dodginess) . . . We will then lead from the immediately below into the afore-mentioned "Patient Change Log (Field-Level Audit)". Bear with me. I promise not to let this get boring). Well, one of two start times. Either: (1) The 8.38am disconnection of his (with, by-then, the TWO 750% overdoses of the renally contraindicated convenience sedative with which the "crying dog"-sensitive ICU staff had plied him overnight) now life-essential IV fluids (8.5 hours into the prescribed 24-hour protocol that they charged me for). And/or: (2) When the day shift ICU "vet" arrived at 9am and decided a THIRD 750% overdose would be a strategic way do deal with a clearly already massively overdosed little 3.8kg, 15-year-old, dehydrated dog. Now WHY would any vet take such a decision? Well, for legal purposes, of course (remembering that the Venerable Dean Jon Huxley and the obviously not- so-new-broom Vice-Chancellor Pierre Venter, have all the money in the public purse to pay their top-tier external legal counsel . . . and by gum, there are enough of the buggers, if this site's analytics are anything to be guided by), I will precede the following by stating that these are my conclusions, made on the basis of the collation and evaluation of the information before me. That said, what I know of my readers is this: You are no intellectual slouches. Feel free to let me know if you can come up with any other conclusion from the information (complete with now numerous "receipts") that I have thus far presented, most especially here and here , and most tellingly of all, in today's expose. R emember, though, I held the ultimate evidence in my arms at 6pm on December 1 . . . and, some 45 minutes later, I let them take it (safely, for them) away from me, just like Harry's (the literal body of evidence) life had just been taken from him. Little Numerals that Tell A BIG Story The plan for Harry's manufactured exit is not so much written into the records, as it is revealed by the tampering with the logs. They lay bare the lead vet’s apparent plan that his life would come to an abrupt end by the pre-scheduled time of (well, they couldn't quite get consistency in the logs regarding the exact minute, but by the absolute latest time of) 17:00 hours i.e. 5pm . . . assumedly, the end of the day shift on December 1. Just in time to mark him "Deceased" and seal off the records of this catastrophically overdosed patient, before the next shift came on, saw his records, and someone started asking the immediately necessary, and certainly appropriate, questions. And those questions would (0R SHOULD ) have included , but would certainly not have been limited to: How long has this dog been in this state? Why hasn't any rescue and remediation protocol been undertaken? Why was he given yet ANOTHER administration of 50mg of Gabapentin at 09:00 hours after the preceding two during night shift? Why is he disconnected from his IV fluids? Who approved that and why? (And if they knew he'd starred in a multi-video student film festival that morning): Was he taken out of his cage and handled in this state? When did he last drink? Was he given any food before he entered this near-comatose state? Does the owner know of the overdoses and the state he's in? Have you filled in an incident report? Have any emergency specialists been called in for advice? and, no doubt, many more questions. OR . . . maybe not. It depends if the rot in that ICU is fully immersive, or if it's concentrated on Dr Stephanie Rigg's day shift and the ICU shift staff of the preceding (November 30) night. But none of those questions could be asked and none of that could happen. The day shift - led by "Dr" Rigg ("Steffi") - wasn't about to let it happen. Thus, the pre-timestamped, just before end-of-shift, Time of Death entered into the "Euthanasia Authorisation" form that they had all queued up for me long before I ever arrived at that Godforsaken facility that fated December 1 afternoon.

(UPDATED) PROOF: Massey Vet, Teaching & ICU Staff INTENDED Harry to Die & Were Actively Facilitating It . . . & the VCNZ Has A MASSIVE Conflict of Interest

by Jordan Kelly • 17 February 2026

Harry WAS A Marked Dog. I Had Hoped Massey Vet Staff Couldn't Have Been Any More Wicked Than They'd Already Been Caught Out Being. But YES , Actually, They COULD .

CATASTROPHIC 750% OVERDOSING & DEATH . . . Gross Malpractice, Deception & Management Malfeasance at Massey

by Jordan Kelly • 15 February 2026

This Is What Happens When Massey Thinks THEY Own Your Dog & Can Do With Him As They Please (You Just Pay the Invoice) At This Appalling, Unaccountable Veterinary House of Horrors (LATEST PROOF OF 'LAB RAT' TREATMENT HERE )

NOT ‘Euthanasia’: A Cover-Up & A Coerced Termination Under False Pretences

by Jordan Kelly • 12 February 2026

FOR LATEST INVESTIGATION FINDINGS: GO HERE . My Precious Little Boy Died Needlessly, In Intense Physical, Mental & Emotional Agony . . . After Massive Overdosing, Intense Cruelty & Intentionally False Diagnosis by Massey 'Vet' (So Called) to Enable His 'Disposal' After Lab Rat-Style Experimentation

Massey University's Upside-Down Prioritisation of Taxpayer Funds: Fiscal Malfeasance & the TRUE Cost of Institutional Arrogance

by Jordan Kelly • 11 February 2026

While my focus is on the 750% overdosing of my precious little dog, Harry, with an unauthorised, contraindicated convenience sedative, his conversion from patient to live specimen, and the subsequent destruction of evidence (HIM), Massey’s focus is on deploying a taxpayer-funded legal hit squad to 'profile' me.

ICU Vet, Massey Neurologist & Dean of School: Dangerously Deficient or Just Plain Dangerous?

by Jordan Kelly • 8 February 2026

An Expert Contributed Commentary (FOR LATEST INVESTIGATION FINDINGS, GO HERE .)

Early Feedback Shows Strong Support for Proactive Pursuit of Strategic Collaboration