Survey shows ‘Uber-Council’ for Wellington lacks appeal
Survey shows ‘Uber-Council’ for Wellington lacks appeal, says Mayor
The results of a new survey showing a lack
of support for amalgamation of local government across the
Wellington region “indicate that there is little public
appetite for one über-council from Miramar to Masterton”,
says Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown.
Hutt City today released the results of a region-wide survey, saying that it shows over 75 percent of residents in Wellington City, Hutt City, Porirua, Upper Hutt, Kapiti and Wairarapa wanted council boundaries to remain unchanged.
In Wellington City, only 18 percent supported a single council for the Wellington region while 76 percent wanted to keep the current council boundaries.
Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said the poll showed little public appetite for a single council to be imposed on the Wellington region.
“This survey shows that a two-tier super city proposal would struggle to be endorsed through a referendum,” she said.
“The larger an organisation, the greater the geographical distance, the greater the potential separation is between decision makers and their constituents. I note that all 21 local boards in Auckland wrote a letter to Mayor Len Brown claiming they are being ignored by the Auckland Council.”
Mayor Wade-Brown said Wellington City was eager to continue the progress of increased cooperation on essential local government functions.
“Councils across Wellington are cooperating well, streamlining our delivery of water services, economic development and emergency management,” she said.
The survey report can be found here: www.huttcity.govt.nz/Documents/Your Council/2014 Public Opinion report.pdf
ends