Local government expert says Super Cities don’t work

Dr Andy Asquith, Senior Lecturer at Massey University, disagrees with the government on Super Cities.  He believes that local government is at a crossroad and any reform needs to address the issue of community disengagement instead of amalgamation.

Dr Asquith has been invited to address a forum on amalgamation next Wednesday 4 July at Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre in Upper Hutt, with Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy, Rimutaka MP Chris Hipkins and Regional Councillor, Paul Swain.

This forum, organised by Experience Upper Hutt (an organisation that works for and on behalf of the CBD businesses) wants ratepayers to have their say on the future of local government in the Upper Hutt and the Wellington region.  Should the way local government is run in the region stay the same or change?

The initial idea of calling the meeting was all about engaging with the local ratepayers to ensure that they have a full understanding and appreciation of what is being proposed by Central Government with the new legislation calling for amalgamation.  In order to get a good spread of the community, Experience Upper Hutt is co-hosting this forum with the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“For us it’s about inclusion, not exclusion”, says Hellen Swales, Director of Experience Upper Hutt.

The meeting is open to the public and starts at 7.30pm.

ENDS

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