{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreihgjvvkufitspamx5mfvjrtycy3wwpi5igbe5rlqzj52cuqodn6ui",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:sl2hrcwo6voaorzsr26d3bo2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjncjpumkps2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreiecmd3sp4d374qcnp2zidvebec2qemkckkmb4e6ltdgtd4v3nv3zm"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 42257
  },
  "description": "When a decision is significant, the public must be properly consulted and involved in the decision making process. ",
  "path": "/what-counts-as-significant/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-16T21:00:17.000Z",
  "site": "https://goodoil.news",
  "tags": [
    "Steve Gibson",
    "https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/hastings-councillor-threatens-legal-action-over-water-services-entity-plan/INVSN3GM5NDAPD7QRT2IJRE53Q/"
  ],
  "textContent": "Steve Gibson\n_Hastings district councillor_\n\nHastings District Council’s own policy proves the point. The Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy is crystal clear. When a decision is significant, the public must be properly consulted and involved in the decision making process.\n\nWhat counts as significant?\nFinancial impact on the whole district\nNumber of people affected\nLevel of public interest\nImpact on strategic assets\nChanges to services or control\n\nNow ask yourself this:\n\n  * Creating a new water entity that can rate the public directly\n  * Transferring control away from elected councillors\n  * Appointing unelected representatives to governance\n\n\n\nIf that is not significant, what is? Their own policy says higher significance requires greater public participation, not less.\n\nIt also states decisions must be clearly explained: consider alternatives and allow meaningful input before decisions are made.\n\nYet the public was never asked the most important question: Who governs this new entity?\n\nThat is not a minor detail. That is the decision.\n\nYou cannot consult on structure, costs and outcomes while avoiding the governance question altogether. By their own policy, this should have triggered full, transparent engagement with the community. Instead, we got a process where the biggest decision was effectively made behind closed doors. That is not consultation. That is process failure.\n\n* * *\n\n_Editor’s Note_ : This rebuttal is Steve’s response to this article: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/hastings-councillor-threatens-legal-action-over-water-services-entity-plan/INVSN3GM5NDAPD7QRT2IJRE53Q/",
  "title": "What Counts as Significant?",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-16T21:00:16.977Z"
}