Editorial: Challenge to mayors and MPs

Amalgamation or no amalgamation, we need our leaders to have one vision. Pictured is Napier Mayor Bill Dalton and Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule

I have personally challenged the mayors of Napier and Hastings to get together with all the Hawke's Bay mayors and MPs and publicly commit to one long-term economic plan for our region.

In an editorial yesterday I suggested that it was time our leaders (mayors and MPs) stopped disagreeing and stepped up. They need to quit squabbling about amalgamation and show us they are united,

In reaction, Napier Mayor Bill Dalton told me I had ignored the fact that the different councils were co-operating well already. He also said he had a good relationship with Hastings mayor, Lawrence Yule.

The public perception is different. Our readers tell us the councils are not working together enough and there is a serious rift over amalgamation. This paper has acknowledged that the councils, together with other organisations, do some good work together, but more is needed, particularly at the political level. The Business Hub, which this paper has praised, was a good step forward, but the perception of disunity at the highest level in our province remains.

Until that is tackled, any good work will be over-shadowed.

Some have tried, mischievously, to suggest that my stance yesterday was pro-amalgamation. It was not. This newspaper won't take a position on amalgamation.

What we will do is take a leadership role in calling on the mayors and MPs to show that they can work together for the whole province. The mayors should invite our local MPs along to their next mayoral forum and commit themselves to coming up with a plan for this province. That will be a start - business leaders, including Ngati Kahungunu, will be next.

Amalgamation or no amalgamation, we need our leaders to have one vision.