The Combined Wairarapa Councils have recently released the independent report they commissioned on governance options for Wairarapa. This report examined several structures for council service delivery and judged them against eight criteria which included affordability, fairness of representation and the ability to deliver good quality infrastructure at the lowest cost.
The report concluded that the best option for the Wairarapa is either a combined council or a unitary authority, one that includes the functions of Greater Wellington Regional Council as well.
This has caused a flurry of comment from the regional council and also some local opinion, stating disappointment that it didn’t consider the Wellington Super-City concept. If these commentators bothered to read the report they would see that it has considered the super-city model and indeed lists the advantages of this arrangement.
The very real disadvantages however are likely to be loss/lack of representation and the focus of governance on metropolitan needs rather than our more rural requirements. This is why the report does not favour this arrangement.
This high level report is however, just a first step in a long process that includes a great deal of public consultation. There is still an enormous amount of work to be done around the financial implications of any proposed change and the possible structure of a combined council. Nothing is a foregone conclusion.
The government has signalled it wants local government reform and its proposed amendments to the Local Government Act, due out in June will be the first step. Whether South Wairarapa District Council is a willing party in this process or is dragged kicking and screaming to the altar, will depend a great deal on the outcome of the next stage of work about to be undertaken.
Adrienne Staples
