The mayor of the smallest district in the Hawke's Bay region fears a plan for a super council will be the death of Wairoa.
The Local Government Commission is proposing the region's five councils merge into one. It says a single Hawke's Bay Council is the best option for dealing with future trends in population movement and economic development.
But Wairoa District mayor Craig Little says it would leave his region with one councillor and its voice will be lost in a super council.
He says it will be squeezed out of decision-making processes, because Wairoa is remote and small with just 8500 people.
Iwi support
Mr Little says very few people showed up to consultation meetings held in Wairoa by the Local Government Commission.
But a key iwi in his district supports the plan.
Ngati Kahungunu has commercial interests in aquaculture, fishing and farming, and its chairperson Ngahiwi Tomoana says councils are territorial and are unable to create regional opportunities, which a unitary council could do.
He says a regional brand could be created, which would have economic benefits.
Mr Tomoana says at present there are territorial brands which mean nothing to the export market.
Similarly, the group that initiated the merger proposal to says it is an exciting opportunity to create a united region.
A Better Hawke's Bay spokesperson Rebecca Turner says the merger can bring a regional vision, regional leadership and a regional plan.
Ms Turner says the re-organisation of councils must and can preserve local identity and decision-making, as was shown by the merger of Taradale with the Napier City Council, and Havelock North with the Hastings District Council.
The mayors of Hawke's Bay's two cities are split: Napier City mayor Bill Dalton is opposed to amalgamation and has described the process as a farce, but his Hastings District counterpart Lawrence Yule supports the proposal, saying it will future-proof Hawke's Bay by giving the region a single voice.
Lawrence Yule. Photo: LGNZ
Mr Yule said on Tuesday a merger would boost Hawke's Bay's social and economic well-being and would future-proof the region by giving it a single voice when dealing with central government and businesses.
"My view is that this region in just about every indicator you can find is lagging behind the rest of New Zealand. And without one coherent form of leadership, one mayor - whoever that might be - one council with a strategy, then we're not going to get on top of that."
Mr Yule said arguments for amalgamation are strong, and those opposed to it are really just opposed to change.
But Mr Dalton says the merger will involve a step-by-step demolition of democracy hurting Hawke's Bay and resulting in massive job losses.
Mr Dalton said the Government took away the democratic right of cities to determine their future by making votes on amalgamation regional, rather than Napier people voting yes or no to joining a super council.
"And frankly, I have no faith in the process whatsoever, and I believe it's an absolute farce."
