NZCID
Media Centre

Wellington Governance Reform Proposal Has Merit, But Could Go Further

NZCID Media Statement
31 October 2012

"The report on Wellington governance from the Sir Geoffrey Palmer led review panel released yesterday sets out a strong case for a united council to realise the future potential of the Wellington region but could further strengthen local community engagement and improve infrastructure service delivery across the region," says Stephen Selwood CEO of the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development.

"Recommending a significantly enhanced Greater Wellington Regional Council and a Lord Mayor elected at large by the entire region the Panel has proposed retention of six local councils generally delineated along existing council boundary lines. While supporting the concept of council controlled organisations to deliver essential community services the Panel has left the door open to full political control of major infrastructure delivery.

“We fully endorse the Panel’s finding that a single governing authority is key to leading the capital’s revitalisation.

“We also endorse the unexpected but very positive recommendation of the Panel to shift to four-year electoral cycles. By extending the period open to decision-makers to plan and implement policy, we expect a four-year term to improve implementation and provide the wider community with certainty over their own investment decisions. Obviously, you couldn’t have just one region of the country voting at different intervals to the rest, so this was clearly a push from the Panel to initiate a wider national discussion – something we think is needed.

“However, the decision to retain existing council boundaries runs a high risk of exacerbating divisions within the region and does nothing to strengthen local democracy at the community level.

"While a seemingly politically attractive compromise, retaining old council boundaries and mayoral positions will embed the old governance arrangements into the new structure. That’s a recipe for conflict and subsequent implementation challenges if local council mayors and councillors do not feel they are getting what they and their constituents want.

"On the other hand, if community councils were based on a larger number of towns and suburbs across the region where there are clear and well known communities of interest, local democracy could be enhanced through governance reform.

“What we are wanting to achieve in any local government restructure is strong long term regional planning and delivery of essential services that support the future growth of the region whilst strengthening local community identity and development. For these reasons, we would favour a single united council to set the long term plan and lead the future development of the region; fully resourced council controlled organisations to deliver high quality infrastructure services region wide; and a larger number of local councils centred on real communities of interest.

"The proposal put forward by the Review Panel throws down the gauntlet to councils and residents in our capital city region. Although the Panel was initiated by the Wellington Regional and Porirua City councils and thus, unlike the Auckland Royal Commission, places no obligation upon central government to act, we can be quite certain the Key-led Government is looking closely at the report and watching Wellington’s response.

“This report clearly shows that business as usual is not viable. Wellington’s economic performance across a number of key indices is below the national average and the region’s population is not growing fast enough to retain its traditional status in New Zealand society. The onus is now on those entities not supportive of the Panel’s findings to provide a viable alternative. Otherwise, it will be appropriate for the government to take action," Selwood says.

ENDS

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