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Kapiti agrees to consultation on Local Government Reform options

14 MARCH 2013.

The Kapiti Coast District Council has agreed to consult residents on three options over the future possible shape of local government across the region.

At an extra council meeting today, councillors voted unanimously to support two options for consultation put forward by a special Working Party on local government reform. They also added a third – to consult on maintaining the status quo.

The Working Party comprised representatives from the Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council, Porirua City Council and the Kapiti Coast District Council.

The Working Party recommended two options for consultation. One would involve a two tier unitary authority for the region with a governing council and local boards and the other a single tier structure.

Both options could include the Wairarapa local authorities if they wished to join.

“We need to emphasise that the decision today is only to consult on the three options. Council has not made a decision on a preference.

“We are very keen at this stage to obtain the views of residents. We need them to tell us what they want. That is the stage we are at,” said Mayor Jenny Rowan.

Porirua City has already voted to consult on the Working Party’s recommendations. Wellington City was due to debate the issue today and Greater Wellington will consider the recommendations on March 20.

“This is a very significant issue, potentially the biggest potential change to our local government structures since 1989. We need residents to inform themselves on the issues at stake so they can tell us what their preference is.”

Mayor Rowan said a special website was planned to open on March 21 where people could go for information. A flyer was planned along with radio and print advertising. Information was already on the Council website but this would be expanded shortly.

A random telephone survey of more than 1000 Kapiti residents was planned, and public meetings were being organised.

“Feedback collected by participating councils will be brought together and analysed so a decision can be made on what sort of proposition can be put to the Local Government Commission. We hope to do this by the end of May,” said Mayor Rowan.

It would then be up to the Local Government Commission to put a formal proposal together for public consideration.

Ends

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