Big-hitters line up for amalgamation debate

Hawke's Bay Today's amalgamation public meeting next week promises to be lively, with high-profile public figures for and against a merger of local councils participating.

The meeting will be held at Napier Boys' High School, Napier, at 6.30pm on Tuesday, August 18.

A three-person pro-amalgamation team, put together by A Better Hawke's Bay chairman Rebecca Turner, will go up against an anti-amalgamation team, organised by Napier Mayor Bill Dalton, in the debate.

The pro-amalgamation team consists of Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule; Hawke's Bay Regional councillor Rick Barker and Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana.

The anti-amalgamation team will comprise Mr Dalton; the MP for Napier Stuart Nash and Mike Butler from the Hastings Against Amalgamation group.

All local government politicians taking part in the debate do so in their own capacity and are not representing their councils.

Hawke's Bay Today editor Andrew Austin, who will moderate the debate, said the newspaper was proud to bring this debate to the public.

"Both teams are very strong and it should make for a very interesting and lively debate."
"The main aim is to give our readers and the public the opportunity to hear from the key players themselves and then to make an informed decision in the referendum."

Readers are invited to submit questions to editor@hbtoday.co.nz and some will be asked.
No questions will be taken from the floor.

A gold coin donation will be requested, with proceeds going to the Limitless Hope Emergency Shelter Appeal.

The amalgamation referendum will be held on September 15. Voting packs will be distributed from August 24-29, covering Napier City, the Hastings, Wairoa and Central Hawke's Bay districts, and a small part of Rangitikei District.

Voting will continue until midday on September 15. A preliminary result is expected later that day, with the official result declared within three days.

The poll is to decide whether voters support a merger of the Napier, Hastings, Wairoa and CHB districts, based on a final proposal issued on June 9 by the Local Government Commission.

The vote will need more than 50 per cent support if there is to be any change.

If the proposal passes, a new Hawke's Bay Council is expected to replace the current councils at the local government elections next year.