No ratepayer cost for trip

Rangitikei District chief executive officer Clare Hadley says she had a fabulous time during her trip to North America in September and October, but it was not at a cost to ratepayers.

Part of her time was spent at the 95th International City/County Management Associations Annual Conference at the Palais des Congres in Montreal, Canada.

Mrs Hadley has reassured Rangitikei ratepayers they did not pay for her trip as she received a sponsorship to attend the conference.

"My SOLGM (Society of Local Government Managers) exchange to America was as a result of sponsorship from Civic Assurance," she said. Having been to an ICMA conference before, she was surprised at the lack of numbers in attendance.

"Normally there are 3000 to 4000 people at the conference," she said. But due to the recession there were half that number.

Speakers came from a dozen countries including Denmark, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Sweden.

The conference had workshops on the Saturday and Sunday with the conference starting on Sunday night.

"I did the keynotes on each day. I attended university workshops on leadership, management and the role of performance measurement and EQ skills for improved elected official relations.

"I went to `Building Communities – more than bricks and mortar' – which I thought was absolutely excellent."

Mrs Hadley said during the conference she joined a field trip focusing on a green waste collection called Westmount's kitchen collection composting: working towards zero per cent waste stream. Mrs Hadley said the pilot project is only at 43 per cent of waste reduction at source, while the target a 60 per cent reduction.

Overall, Mrs Hadley said those who attended did not learn anything new that is not already being done in New Zealand.

While in Montreal she and her husband Ken were introduced to Bixi Bikes.

"I was absolutely blown away with delight with Bixi Bikes," she said.

The bikes and bike stops scattered throughout Montreal allow cyclists to drop off and retrieve bicycles.

Mr and Mrs Hadley went on to Denver where they stayed with the assistant city manager of Thornton, Boulder, Colorado, Joyce Hunt, as part of an exchange programme.

Ms Hunt is coming to New Zealand next year and Mrs Hadley said she wants to ensure her visitor receives the same warm welcome here as she received in Thornton.

"I will work with colleagues to share her around Horizons and the wider district," Mrs Hadley said.

During her week in Thornton Mrs Hadley was able to shadow the municipality's chief executive officer for a day and visited two local authorities.

Part of her week included an introduction to the Colorado Municipal League, a non-profit, non partisan organisation providing advocacy, information and training, plus a day with the city attorney looking at the taxpayer Bill of Rights.

She said the problems faced by towns around the world are similar to those facing councils in New Zealand.

After the official part of her trip, Mr and Mrs Hadley went to San Francisco for a week.