From the Mayor

All the talk of reorganising local government seems to have polarized people into two camps, yes please and no thanks.  Those for are generally divided into ‘one Wairarapa’ or being part of a larger Wellington region governance structure. 

The problem is that we simply don’t yet have the facts to support any of the arguments for or against. The facts we do have are that the proposed changes to the Local Government Act will make amalgamations of local government easier to achieve and there is pressure to change. 

We do know that there is great demand on resources and we have to do more with less.  Simply sharing services with neighbouring councils does not deliver sufficient savings to make small councils viable in the long term.

With modern technology and transport it is harder and harder to justify each small community supporting their own Mayor, Councillors and council offices.  It’s nice to have but is it really necessary?  Balanced against that is the importance of local democracy and the ability for people to have a meaningful say in the future of the community they live in.  Lastly we know that we need to be part of a bigger picture. The Wairarapa cannot exist in isolation. 

The Wairarapa Governance Group is considering all these matters as it works through possible options for Wairarapa.  The Group has spoken at length to the panel commissioned by GWRC as have our Councils individually.

Work is being undertaken on the cost implications of reorganising.  When we have sufficient facts for informed debate we will be looking for public input.  While all this is happening please remember that even with the proposed changes, the Local Government Act does not allow for a Wellington Super City.  For this to happen we would need an act of parliament just as the Auckland Super City did and that takes time.
Adrienne Staples