Wellington Amalgamation Debate at Risk

The debate over local government reform in Wellington shouldn’t be hijacked by politicians, Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett says.

“If the first 20 hours since the Commission announcement are any indication, name calling and nastiness risks crowding out a necessary and important debate about the future of the Wellington region,” Mayor Leggett says.

“The region deserves better than a bunch of politicians engaging in turf warfare and easy headline hunting. This is a once in a generation opportunity to get things right. We should have a serious and informed discussion about how we should govern ourselves over the next 30 years.”

Mayor Leggett says MPs in Wellington who have launched a campaign for a referendum on local government changes are in danger of misleading the public.

“There has never been doubt about the need for a referendum, including among supporters of reform like myself. Rather than beating a hollow drum for a referendum that everyone agrees is going to happen, Members of Parliament could instead inform constituents about the proposal and the consultation process between now and March.

“While I support the overall direction of the proposed reforms, I respect that many people have sincere doubts about the merits of change. We all want the best for our communities, and no-one benefits if the discussion descends into partisan political point-scoring.”

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