The latest act in the circus of determining Hayden Evans' rates debt has played out on the pre-election stage with the councillor responding to a Mayor Stuart Crosby ultimatum.
In an email from Stuart on Wednesday morning, the mayor demanded the embattled Te Papa Welcome Bay councillor come clean or be exposed on how much he owed council.
Hayden is happy about paying his rates and shows it here with what he says is a rates receipt.
The email stated:
"You have recently made public comment about the status of your rates which is misleading. The issue is now in the public arena and is a matter of public interest.
I intend to release this information if you do not make an accurate public statement on the status of your rates and water arrears by 5pm on Thursday the 23rd."
This comes after a series of dramatic episodes, with the public and fellow councillors challenging Hayden to confess the status of his rates account.
It began when Councillor Mike Baker challenged all council candidates to declare their rates account at an open forum session of the project and services committee two weeks ago.
Hayden did not respond in the meeting, but SunLive pursued the challenge and asked Hayden at the time: 'Do you believe it is appropriate for a person running for council to be in the clear on their rates bill when heading into an election?'
Hayden replied a person should never fall behind in their rates.
"My view on rates is that they have always got to be paid and as far as I know I have always paid my rates. Always. Including all penalties and anything else council has put on me."
It now transpires that at the time of making that statement, Hayden was in arrears.
The date the latest round of Tauranga City Council rates were due was August 17.
Stuart says at 4.01pm on Wednesday, Tauranga City Council received a payment by cheque on behalf of Hayden for payment of his rates and water accounts at a New Zealand Post agency.
This act means Hayden complied with the mayor's ultimatum and avoided having the amount he owed declared publicly.
On Thursday morning, Hayden presented copies of the mayor's email to SunLive and said he had paid his rates and showed a copy of the receipt. At that stage he planned to present it to Stuart at 5pm.
Hayden says he delayed payment to show the lengths the mayor would go to.
18 comments
Will it bounce?
Posted on 24-09-2010 08:59 | By DaKiwiBean
Well let's hold our breath, the banking system takes at least 3 days to clear a cheque. By Wednesday next week lets see if it's honoured. Hayden it's time for you to go. Stand down before the electorate puts you down.
Outrageous
Posted on 24-09-2010 09:23 | By dogsbody
So all the time this councillor has been trying to convince us he should spend our rates, he hasn't even paid his own. Since the start of the election he's been saying he always pays his rates, and for all those weeks, he was in arrears. This is just outrageous. Worse, he's playing little games while on the payroll (paid from our rates) . even worse, you can bet stuff all productive work has been achieved for the city he's supposed to represent. Wake up Tga, kick for touch.
But wait there's more
Posted on 24-09-2010 09:27 | By Milf
Dogsbody, it gets worse. This councillor applied for hardship rates remission, despite being on more than $70 grand salary. he was turned down. what sort of person squeals hardship while on that sort of dosh, and tries to get rate relief from the same body that employs him?
And then more
Posted on 24-09-2010 09:56 | By mrsfruitloop
How about his own business even - the blow-#$%@ that is Mr Evans is generally very proud to spout off how much he makes per year in that. He is a **** - and, yes, I fear the cheque will bounce like a rubber-ball. Shame it doesn't bounce out of the BOP and Cr Evans can go running for it.
Public interest
Posted on 24-09-2010 10:37 | By gotell
In the light of recent events in Parliamentary politics, could Sunlive ask each candidate to answer: "Do you believe ratepayers have a right to know if candidates have had name suppression from a New Zealand court, for any reason other than being a victim or witness?" The next question is obviously: "Have you, without being a victim or witness, received name suppression from a New Zealand court?" The suppression itself is not a defence against answering as the specific case is not mentioned.
Get rid
Posted on 24-09-2010 11:19 | By DRich
Ticking 'H' (for H'Evan's sake, yuk yuk) = ticking 'H' for Hypocrisy. Remove this self-serving swerve-merchant from the public teat forthwith
Thanks SunLive and Mayor Crosby!
Posted on 24-09-2010 11:57 | By Sara Adams
Thank you SunLive and Mayor Crosby for bringing this to light. Many people are still unsure who to vote for but I would say people would put 'law abiding citizen' at the top of their list of qualities. Councillors not paying rates and driving drunk isn't a good look, if you are in the public eye you need to be squeaky clean.
A matter of integrity
Posted on 24-09-2010 12:13 | By The Sage
***line removed by editor*** Perhaps the Council needs to adopt a policy that only people with no debt to the Council should be allowed to stand or be voted onto Council.As far a Evans pathetic excuse that he did this to see what lengths the Mayor would go to, let's turn that around and say what lengths Evans would go to not to pay his rates. Try giving a straight and honest answer Evans, you've probably never done this in your life. Your days are nearly numbered on Council so I guess you have to try and grab what limelight you can, because in a few weeks you will be yesterday's news.
COUNCIL IN DEBT $300,000 ++++
Posted on 24-09-2010 12:45 | By The Master
When is Council paying Evans his $300,000 that they 'OWE” him, If we are measuring things here then a few dollars owed by Evans is nothing compared to the Mayor and good ol boys decision not to pay what they owe! Vote them out because they don't pay.
SUNLIVE PUNTERS UPDATE
Posted on 24-09-2010 12:47 | By The Master
Did you all know that the Mayor asked his go-fa to ask the rates question in Council chambers, to weak to do it himself. That 'proven leadership” for you
BAKER’S RANT ON RATES ARREARS & OTHER TRIVIA
Posted on 24-09-2010 13:18 | By CONDOR
Hogwash and red herrings rubbish and simply dreamed up by the goons to deflect the heat away from TCC financial and rates mess. All the usual suspects have come out of the woodwork to wring their hands ******** that they are.It is said that up to 30% of Tauranga residents have rate arrears and many are having difficulty in paying them particularly with the huge annual increases. Strangely, rate arrears are the best investment TCC can ever have, they get a 10% penalty return every 6 months. Most other things Council are involved in lose that much and more. This all pales in comparison to the $ millions lost every month by Council which doesn't seem to bother TCC or the goon squad at all. If the rates rort keeps going, rate arrears will be the last of Mr Baker's worries because there will be a widespread ratepayer revolt with non payment of rates, which will drive Council into liquidation mode. Best thing that could happen too!!!
LIST ALL RATES ARREARS
Posted on 25-09-2010 13:21 | By The Master
I challenge the Mayor to print and make public a list of "ALL" who are in arrears ... it is a book!
HOW ABOUT AN IQ TEST?
Posted on 25-09-2010 13:51 | By Democracy
Clearly we need to put election candidates through basic literacy and IQ tests. Most of the current lot seem to fall short of what's needed. Let's go for a clean sweep people...
Get on with it
Posted on 26-09-2010 13:22 | By spreadmaster
The Mayor and Evans are as pathetic as each other. This crap plays out more like Shortland Street than how a body of elected officials should be representing their city. Get on with the job rather than acting like a bunch of spoilt children.
Who's The Master
Posted on 26-09-2010 13:23 | By spreadmaster
ARe you Evans voice or are you Evans?? Pretty one sided regardless.
Good on the Mayor
Posted on 26-09-2010 18:55 | By JSmithington
People paid by rates should at least pay theres. Its been interesting to read all the sort of answers before and the reasons. I read the latest here is "Hayden says he delayed payment to show the lengths the mayor would go to." Really? So what about this $300,000 the master says. Could Evans prove this? Read the Sunlive story carefully. It pretty much says it all about this councillor.
DISCLOSURE REQUIRED
Posted on 02-10-2010 10:48 | By The Master
H-Sake I am not Evans, I am not a Councillor or candidate. I however am well aware of the goings on inside "TOWN" Hall and I state what I see ... only limited by what will be able to be put up here by hte powers at be for this site. If only I was able to state all, the truth and nothing but the truth, all would be revealed to see.
shocked 1
Posted on 10-10-2010 11:09 | By shocked 1
Very rich of the mayor a great way to stir up trouble prior to the election. Why are you not so keen to enter the public arena on the Baypark and Bob Clarkson issues????
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.