A letter to the Far North District Mayor

Pathfinding – Reflections on the 2026 State of the Far North Address –Shifting Gears: The Road Ahead

Tēnā koe Kahika Moko,  

Yesterday’s Council decision to vote for the forward looking GREENHOUSE GAS  EMISSIONS REDUCTION Option 1 was a most welcome gear change indeed!  

Thank you and your Team for the inspiring and genuinely enjoyable State of the  District address. The clarity, optimism, and community spirit you fostered were  remarkable. We especially enjoyed the hot rod as a metaphor—it sparked a lot of  smiles and perfectly captured the Far North ethos of "making a lot happen on the  whiff of an oily rag." It's a testament to the skill and ingenuity we value here.  Note: Obviously hot rods should remain stationary to avoid exhaust emissions -  clear the road for EVs!  

Your presentation made several things brilliantly clear:  

1. Your Leadership on Water: With "Waters Done Well" listed as your first  priority online, and a combined $72 million ($40.4M wastewater + $31.8M  water services) now budgeted, you have effectively positioned yourself as the  Champion-in-Chief for our district's water future. This is a massive and  heart warming commitment, which will require utmost attention and urgent  action even before the handover to the CCO.  

2. Rate Prudence in Action: Targeting a 6.7% rates increase, on the back of  last year's nationally low 4.6%, demonstrates the disciplined stewardship in  “putting the brakes on” that makes such ambitious investment possible. We  realise the challenge to fit in as much for climate resilience and action as  possible to protect people and property now and in future.  

3. A Model for Success: The roading section, with its focus on faster and more  efficient action and smartly obtained subsidies, provides a fantastic blueprint  for how to deliver major infrastructure gains.  

Maximising the $72 Million Opportunity: A "Hot Rod" Approach to Water The hot rod metaphor is more apt than people might think for the water challenges  ahead. It speaks to smart, effective engineering that delivers maximum  performance without excessive cost. This is precisely the philosophy behind the  Electrocoagulation (EC) technology we've advocated for.  

Transforming Wastewater Management for Small Communities in the Far North District of NZ (PDF) 

We see a powerful opportunity to apply this "Far North ingenuity" to the water  budget:  

• Stretch the Investment: EC systems, as add-ons or primary solutions for  small communities, are the high-performance, lower-cost option. They  can help the $40.4 million wastewater budget deliver compliance and reach  more towns, reducing future liabilities.  

• Build Resilience, Not Just Pipes: As the Moa Point disaster underscores,  we must invest in reliable, resilient systems, not just expensive concrete.  Strong performance metrics and audit clauses for contractors are essential to  protect this huge investment and ensure the future CCO inherits robust  assets.  

• Clarity Drives Confidence: With this level of spending transparent project  governance is key. A clear organigram and defined reporting lines will give  the community confidence that this historic investment is being managed with  utmost efficiency.  

In essence, we hope your vision for "Waters Done Well" and our advocacy for  smart, effective technology like EC are perfectly aligned. Both aim to achieve  outstanding results for our communities without placing an impossible burden on  ratepayers and the environment.  

And what is the fun in this? 

The fun is in turning a headache into a headline. Imagine cutting the ribbon on a  new, compact plants in Rawene, Taipa and others that not only meet the  commissioners’ and court’s deadline, but does so under budget—freeing up funds  for another community projects.  

The fun is in outsmarting the problem with clever engineering, proving that the  Far North can pioneer solutions that bigger, richer councils overlook.  And yes, the fun is in the challenge: can we build a wastewater system as lean,  mean, and effective as that hot rod on stage? We think we can.  

We are ready to support this work in any way helpful—whether providing detailed  case studies, facilitating site visits to working systems, or contributing to business  case development.  

Thank you for your bold leadership and for creating an environment where  constructive, community-focused solutions can thrive.  

Ngā mihi nui me manaakitanga!  

Inge Bremer & Rolf Mueller-Glodde 

Carbon Neutral NZ Trust