Feedback on local government reform

May 31, 2013

Almost 55% of Kapiti residents prefer the current local government governance structure, according to the results of a recent survey. There is even greater support for community boards.

The survey was commissioned by Council and undertaken between May 6 and May 25 by SIL Research. It involved 1,500 residents across the four wards randomly selected and the scores weighted according to age and gender spread across the district.

Almost 55% said they preferred the status quo (eight city and district councils and one regional council) and almost 43% said they wanted a single city.

Of that 43%, 51% said they wanted a two tier governing structure and 44.5% wanted a single tier structure.

When asked whether there were any other options they would prefer, 78.9% said ‘no’. Just over 65% said community boards were ‘very important’ or ‘somewhat important’.

Mayor Jenny Rowan said the phone survey involving 1,500 was large by survey standards and as a result the margin of error was only plus or minus two to two and a half percent.

“We made it clear we wanted our residents to let us know what their views were on the important issue of amalgamation and they have done that. This is a very large sample and provides a high level of confidence in the results.

“We will use these to help inform us when we discuss the issue on June 6.”

ENDS

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