From the Mayor

proposal which would have seen Wairarapa being assimilated into Wellington has been kicked into touch.  To some this is seen as a lost opportunity but for the majority the sighs of relief are audible.  It also shows that democracy is alive and well.
 
The Commission sought submissions on their proposal and over nine thousand were received.  Of those submissions, eighty nine per cent opposed the super-city giving a clear indication of the feeling of the people.  The Local Government Commission listened and now we are back to the drawing board.  Interestingly though it seems that there was support for change, just not the type of change proposed.
 
So where to from here?  First we have to identify the problem before we can recommend a solution.  The Commission has admitted that its process didn’t do this.  It wants to work with Councils and communities to come up with proposals for change that will gain majority acceptance.  This won’t be a speedy procedure so for at least the next year it will be business as usual.