One voice for Wellington: make the region thrive

Property Council strongly supports the reorganisation of local government in the Wellington region to decrease inefficiencies, improve governance and get the region moving forward.

Wellington needs courageous leadership to drive through change, and active consideration of the region’s current and future requirements are an essential element. Without this, structural change in itself will not be effective.

A single voice for Wellington will improve its ability to be heard and met by Central Government while combining its resources across the region, and developing a plan and strategic focus will give it more influence. Property Council Wellington Branch has submitted to the Local Government Commission, highlighting the benefits:

a more integrated and strategic focus

a stronger voice, and greater competiveness, particularly at a national and international

more effective planning and achievement of robust outcomes

greater efficiency and effectiveness

better strategy and management of infrastructure provision

resilience to changing demographics

a strong role for local communities and representation of local interests

Branch president Mike Cole says too many councils, each with their own laws, bylaws and regulations, are pulling the region in 10 different directions.

“Right now the Government’s focus is on Auckland and Christchurch, and it is crucial to get them paying attention to Wellington’s needs. Without this attention, we’re not going to get a thriving region, leaving us nationally and internationally uncompetitive.”

While Property Council is a proponent of amalgamation, it recognises that such a body would need a clear strategic focus to ensure its leadership is implemented via a sound understanding of the region’s economic, cultural and social requirements and making trade-offs based on robust evidence.

At the moment, each district council produces its own district, long term and annual plans, including countless strategy and policy documents. These are costly and lengthy processes which often result in legal challenges.

“One set of strategies, plans and policies for the whole region would result in less cost and greater efficiencies for local government.”

This comes at a time when the Government has announced RMA reforms to get district and local councils to consider national planning templates, speed up plan-making, achieve resolutions level

collaboratively and recognise property rights. These reforms will be best executed when the region works from a unified platform without the risk of districts working against each other and delaying the national, district and local processes.

Wellington Branch is hosting the event A Regional Approach tomorrow evening, which will hear from Fran Wilde and John Shewan discussing the importance and repercussions of amalgamation. To book your place contact Paula McLachlan on WellingtonBranch@propertynz.co.nz.

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