Media release

Friday, 10 August 2012

Local government reform consultation preliminary statistics for Upper Hutt

Upper Hutt City Council’s consultation statistics show little appetite for change in local government structure for the Wellington region.

UPPER HUTT, Wellington NZ, 10 AUG 2012—After completing its local government reform consultation period last week, Upper Hutt City Council has announced initial statistics on its respondents’ views. A total of 1409 submissions were officially received for the consultation—the largest response in known memory.

“This is a huge response for us,” said Mayor Wayne Guppy. “It goes to show how concerned the people of Upper Hutt are about the issues at stake, and how they view the future of local government in our city and the region.”

Of the 1409 submissions, 1049 respondents or 74.4%, indicated that they wanted the way local government was organised in the Wellington region to ‘remain the same.’ Of those that chose ‘change,’ 127 chose Option 1 (shared services/collaborative) as their preferred option. This indicates a total of 83.5% against any proposed amalgamation for the city.

Approximately 40 respondents indicated they would like to orally present their submissions. Dates for the hearings have now been set for Monday 20 August, beginning at 4.30 pm, and Tuesday 21 August, beginning at 9.00 am. The hearings will be held in Upper Hutt City Council Chambers.

About Upper Hutt City Council

Upper Hutt City Council is the steward and custodian of Upper Hutt City, providing governance, infrastructure, and community services and resources, and promoting opportunity in the city for business, recreation, lifestyle, and leisure. Upper Hutt City is located 30 km north-east of Wellington City (41°07'34" S, 175°04'06" E) and boasts 70% of the region’s parks and reserves, along with state-of-the-art entertainment and leisure facilities.

Contact
For more information on Upper Hutt City and the City Council, go to www.upperhuttcity.com

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