Wairarapa a step in the right direction but underlying national challenges remain
"It is positive to see the Local Government Commission has put forward a sound proposal for the Wairarapa, but the
ongoing piecemeal approach to reform is not tackling the wider national issue of whether councils can plan, fund and
meet long-term local needs," says Stephen Selwood Chief Executive of Infrastructure New Zealand.
The Commission has proposed that the existing Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa district councils be brought
together into a single Wairarapa District Council. The new entity will have a single mayor, elected at large, and 12
councillors elected across seven wards.
Wairarapa will have the choice of either accepting or rejecting the Commission’s proposal, likely in a poll next year.
"The Commission’s proposal will deliver a more capable and better resourced council for the area. The larger entity will
have improved capacity for strategic planning, a bigger balance sheet to support investment prioritisation and will be
able to speak with a louder, united voice on behalf of all of Wairarapa.
"We agree with the Commission that these benefits can be realised whilst maintaining local representation and identity
through community boards.
"In our view, community boards should be delegated with appropriate powers and funding at the local level to support
community needs.
"This proposal is definitely a step forward for Wairarapa.
"But it is still not clear whether the new 40,000 resident entity will be sufficient to meet long term challenges. Nor
is it clear what the solution is for New Zealand’s 64 other territorial authorities, most of whom find themselves facing
exactly the same issues as the Wairarapa.
"Population aging across virtually all of New Zealand is constraining the ability of councils to increase rates at the
same time as billions of dollars of infrastructure comes up for renewal. Together with increased expectations for
environmental performance, greater health and safety requirements, stronger heritage protections and other directives
from central government, growth councils are responding by underfunding new development and impeding housing supply.
"The whole system by which councils are funded, the responsibilities they have and the decisions they are required to
make is unsustainable and needs to be revised.
"Meeting long term challenges requires governance structures which allow effective planning supported by resources and
delivery capability. This is as true for councils in the South Island as it is in the Wairarapa and rest of the North
Island.
"What is required is a first principles review of local government’s role in New Zealand, how councils are resourced and
what the optimum structures are for meeting 21st century needs," Selwood says.
ENDS