PC has some advice for Rodney Hide:
http://pc.blogspot.com/2009/06/rodneys-my-fair-lady-clause.html
Extract:
- Eliminate the ability of non-ratepayers to vote in all local body elections;
- Reintroduce non-resident ratepayer vote;
- An immediate and permanent cap on the ratings levels of councils at existing monetary levels;
- Require that the 25% of councils each year that tax ratepayers at the highest level per ratepayer be required to reduce rates to the level of the lowest council;
- Require the abolition of all general rates differentials (e.g. higher rates for commercial properties vs. residential), with the current lowest general rating category applying across the board;
- Eliminate targeted rates in favour of direct user charges;
- Eliminate local authority petrol and diesel tax;
- Immediately prohibit all councils entering into any new commercial or non-commercial venture of any kind, and  require that all existing trading activities of councils (including roads) be transferred to Local Authority Trading Enterprises;
- Prohibit ratepayer funding for any activities of any Local Authority Trading Enterprise;
- Prohibit new council borrowing. Existing debt repayments will only be able to be made from existing revenue sources, including privatisation;
- Prohibit councils making bylaws that interfere with individual freedoms and private property rights;
- Require that all councils when acting under their statutory obligations under the Resource Management Act, fully respect all private property rights;
