Dunne: Wellington Governance Review Can’t Be Navel-Gazing

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne today welcomed the Wellington City Council’s review of the how the region is governed, but cautioned against it being “yet another process to delay the inevitable”.

“It’s game-over in terms of knowing where we need to go. It’s not rocket science. We need to become a supercity,” the MP for Ohariu said.

“Auckland is becoming a super-city, and Greater Wellington needs to match it or we will be out-played, out-muscled and out-manoeuvred.

“To the extent that Wellington needs to approach this strategically, the review is a good idea. However, if it becomes yet another example of drawn-out municipal navel-gazing, I would have a problem with it,” Mr Dunne said.

“We’re dealing with some very simple realities: Auckland is the major economic and population powerhouse of New Zealand.

“An organised, powerful and cohesive Auckland, with its population dominance, will present a major economic and political challenge to Wellington – and to a lesser extent to Christchurch.

“Both cities can either move with the times and respond to this challenge, or settle for back-water status in the years ahead.

“So yes, the Council should review and think. But let’s not muck around,” he said.

Mr Dunne has consistently proposed a Wellington supercity extending as far north as Waikanae, but excluding Wairarapa, with one elected council and mayor, supported by a network of community boards, to replace the Wellington, Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, and Kapiti councils, and the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

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