New Group Against Amalgamation – for Improvement

26 FEBRUARY 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A group of Wellingtonians have launched a campaign to resist the Greater Wellington Regional Council’s scheme to amalgamate Wellington’s existing councils. The group, Best Little Capital, has been formed by Wellingtonians Michael Moughan and Digby Livingston.

Mr Moughan says, “Best Little Capital is a call to arms for those who want better local government, but worry that Wellington City has been drifting towards amalgamation without establishing that it is the right solution for the region’s problems.”

“We think that the case for amalgamation lacks convincing evidence. It is a lazy would-be solution to a problem that has never been adequately articulated.”

“There are far more useful changes that we as a city, and a region, could be working towards; changes that do not threaten genuine local democracy or risk Wellington City’s money being used to rectify other council’s failure to invest in and maintain their infrastructure. But solving the real problems that plague local government will require creativity and courage.”

“The pro-amalgamation campaign seems to be carefully orchestrated and largely ratepayer funded. It is now becoming obvious that it is the scheme of a small but vocal minority. Alterations to the structure of local democracy should be after careful analysis of evidence. Instead we’ve been offered emotional sloganeering.”

“Wellington City is already a ‘super city’. It has a unique culture. We do not want it stifled by bureaucratic mediocrity and compromise.”

ENDS

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