Debate heats up

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton.

The region's amalgamation debate is reaching a fever pitch, as a decision on the merger is now just two weeks away.

Pro-amalgamation lobby group A Better Hawke's Bay (ABHB) was slammed by three of the region's four local mayors this week, for a campaign advertisement featured in Hawke's Bay Today.

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton said the ad, which listed a number of ideas people would like to see realised under a new, unified council, was the product of a baseless marketing campaign.

But ABHB chairman Rebecca Turner accused Mr Dalton of "making unhealthy remarks about what people thought long and hard about".

Arguments for the merger often cite a need for a coherent regional plan, more effective lobbying of central government, and less red tape for local businesses.

Critics say it would erode local democracy and lead to rates increases and skewed representation. Mr Dalton, Wairoa Mayor Craig Little and Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Peter Butler are all opposed to the proposal, while Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule is in favour of it, and has indicated he would consider running for mayor of Hawke's Bay if it went ahead. Hastings District councillor Jacoby Poulain and Unison Networks and Hawke's Bay District Health Board chairman Kevin Atkinson have also indicated they would run for the top job.

It was incorrectly reported in today's paper that Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana had indicated he was interested in running for mayor of Hawke's Bay. Mr Tomoana said he has no intention of doing so and the error occurred during the production process. Hawke's Bay Today regrets the error.

An anti-amalgamation hui will be held tomorrow by the Napier Pilot City Trust (NCPT).

Starting with karakia at Pania of the Reef at 11am, attendees will then march down to the Sound Shell before the hui - with a number of speakers - takes place to discuss "how amalgamation will not develop a safer city".