COUNCILLOR
Capable, Strategic Leadership
LARRY BALDOCK
Article from 2013 Bop Times Rating the then sitting councillors' performance - Larry Baldock was one of only 3 to receive an "A" out of all the councillors!)
September 15, 2016
"The social conscience of the council, who doubles as an advocate to
unshackle property developers.
Councillor Baldock is an astute politician who offers something to
everyone. He has plenty of experience around the corridors of power, both from his previous stint on the council and as a parliamentarian.
Cr Baldock backs winners and must be a genuine
leadership contender when Mayor Stuart Crosby decides to call it a day."
- John Cousins, Political Editor, BOP Times (Article from 2013 Rating the then sitting councillors' performance - Larry Baldock was one of only 3 to receive an "A" out of all the councillors!)
My use of this article is not intended to imply that John Cousins or The Bay of Plenty Times are in anyway supporting or endorseing my campaign.
For the FULL Article CLICK HERE
Fact Check - Council Debt
September 14, 2016
The local body elections are now starting heat up and some canditates are making claims which need to be checked. Please feel free to download this flyer and check the facts for yourself.
I will leave it up to you to decide for yourself if anyone is being economical with the truth, or just doing what everyone expects of politicians at elections.
Fact Checkers - 1/2 truths or Whole truths - who is checking ??
September 11, 2016
Where are the fact checkers?
Mayoral Candidate Larry Baldock is calling for more accountability in regard to statements made by candidates in this election.
“If you have ever tuned in to the media in the US during the presidental race you will have heard the term ‘fact check.’ Any time there is a debate or major speech by a candidate the media scrutinize minutely every promise, claim or counter claim made by each candidate. This is a very important function of a free press in any society,” said Mr Baldock.
“We have begun the process of elections here in Tauranga and candidates in written form and in speeches are making their claims to past achievements, or are making future promisies based on what they see as the current facts of any situation.
How difficult a task is it for the voter to know whether they are hearing facts or fiction, without the objective scrutiny of an unbiased media.
So far in just two ‘meet the candidate’ events there have been enough half truths, and mis-information to keep a ‘fact checker’ pretty busy.
I am hoping to see the media take an active role in the campaign to inform the public much better. Otherwise how will anyone know the truth?
The answer to that is of course, by the candidates written and paid broadcast messages. Another words the facts as they choose to present them.
Our democracy desperately needs a few fact checkers,” he said.
August 30, 2016
Tauranga mayoral contender Larry Baldock has pledged to survey ratepayers on major issues that hit them in the pocket, including measures to reduce traffic congestion.
His election promise was sparked by concerns that people's lives were now so busy that they did not know what the council was dealing with.
He said that if he won the election to lead the city for the next three years, he would canvas public opinion on contentious big ticket items or controversial council policy changes.
''Some people don't know what is going on. They are so busy with their lives.''
August 07, 2016
Spending $18 million to renovate the newer buildings in Tauranga's downtown civic block has emerged as the most favoured option to rehouse council staff.
Larry Baldock, who today announced his candidacy for the city's mayoralty, has revealed some of the results of a private poll he commissioned of 600 Tauranga residents.
The two questions which centred on the civic heart proposals were released as part of Mr Baldock's submission on the council's controversial $71 million plan.
July 15, 2016
A private poll of 600 people by potential Tauranga mayoral candidate Larry Baldock will include testing people's knowledge of the proposed civic heart project and whether it should start with building a new library.
Polling by the Auckland-based company which began today will also canvas public opinion on the growing field of candidates vying to become mayor in order to gauge the frontrunners.
May 29, 2016
Former Parliamentarian and city councillor Larry Baldock is bracing himself for a political comeback that could include vying for the leadership of Tauranga.
Mr Baldock, 61, has joined the growing list of definite and potential candidates wanting to fill the vacuum left by mayor Stuart Crosby's announcement not to seek re-election this year.
September 26, 2013
Tauranga City Council has dropped its demand for a $150,000 maintenance bond before the Hairy Maclary sculptures can be installed on the downtown waterfront.
A special meeting of the council today also agreed to contribute up to $50,000 towards the installation of the statues of Hairy Maclary and his storybook pals.
May 28, 2012
A key component of the plan to develop a university campus in downtown Tauranga has been signed off by the city council, but not before some councillors argued against the 33-year rent-free deal for the land.
The University of Waikato, the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi have formed a partnership to develop a tertiary campus in three stages, starting with the opening of a campus in 2015 for up to 700 students.
All major roading projects in the Western Bay will be under way within the next decade after the Government today announced a special $150 million transport grant.
This extra funding through Land Transport NZ is expected to be matched by contributions from local authorities over the next 10 years - producing a $300 million spur to the Bay's transport plans.
The funding boost - announced by Transport Minister Pete Hodgson - will virtually eliminate the shortfall in completing the congestion-busting strategic roading network.
Larry Baldock feels right at home as he strolls the Greerton Village shopping centre handing out the latest United Future booklet entitled Strong Families, Strong Country.
Baldock, 51, is Tauranga's only home-grown sitting MP. He grew up just down the road in Gate Pa and now lives on the other side of Greerton Village in the more affluent Pyes Pa.