Ewan McGregor: Albatross outstays welcome

Ewan McGregor

Surely a compelling reason for council amalgamation is to end the entrenched tribalism characterising the political relationship between Napier and Hastings.

It's an albatross around Hawke's Bay's neck, unique to this region.

New Zealand's regional communities are geologically defined, usually enveloped within landward mountains and coast, with an historic population centre clustered around a port. But here the population centre is evenly divided between two towns, close enough to be largely one association, but separately governed. This has always been an irresistible temptation for populist parochialism.

Way back In 1897 there was a proposal to have meat slaughtered for local consumption in a centralised abattoir, with a saving of costs such as meat inspection. Hastings proposed the established plant at Tomoana, but Napier objected. This letter from "Try Fluke" in the Daily Telegraph, written 118 years ago, I quote as it exactly encapsulates the "concede nothing, be prepared to duplicate everything" posture that has characterised the twin-city governance ever since.

"Sir, Why is it necessary for the Napier Borough Council to amalgamate, with the Hastings Council on this question? If it is, does not Dr Linney know himself as rather one sided, by proposing Nelson Bros at Tomoana as the place for the abattoirs?

Why should Napier butchers go to Hastings; why not come to Napier, either to the Awatoto public slaughterhouse, or else to the North British Freezing Company's works? Surely Tomoana is not the only place in Hawke's Bay which is suitable ... I hope our Napier Councillors will look after the town interests of Napier, and take Mr Coleman's example re the A and P Society, and keep it in Napier.

If there is to be a public abattoir - which there should - have fair play; make it as convenient for one butcher as another, not to suit would-be benefactors, backed up to put somebody in a nice cosy little billet."

Such entrenched inter-town rivalry has become a debilitating factor in the unity and progress of this province, but it's recently taken a new dimension with some slagging the public of another district, rather than just the leadership. Recently, Ian Dick, the chairman of DAD, the group opposing amalgamation, wrote a Talking Point. He wondered: "I'm not sure why the pro-amalgamation people of Hastings do not 'get' these facts the way the people of Wairoa, Napier and CHB do." So the people of Wairoa, Napier and CHB are real smart. They "get" the facts - his, of course - whereas those in Hastings are too dull to do so. Well, the facts may be okay, but they're no substitute for the truth. Mr Dick concludes with advice to the people of Hastings to dump their inward-looking councillors and replace them with regionally minded ones. Some acknowledgment of the contributions Hastings has made to regional facilities in Napier would have been nice.

But (now) MP Stuart Nash has gone further, attacking the very spirit of Hastings people. This is what he stated on Bill Dalton's blog some time ago, after Bill was given, from accounts, a hard time from the Karamu Rotary Club. Bill was "astounded" at the "anti-Napier feeling". He had never heard "Napier people suggesting that there is anything wrong with the general population of Hastings". He obviously hadn't factored in Mr Nash, who responded: "Bill, this is a most interesting phenomena that I have encountered before: those from Napier say they are from Napier, whereas those from Hastings say they are from Hawke's Bay. It's as if Hastings people lack pride in their city, whereas the people of Napier have an incredible sense of pride and identity that comes from living in the best city in the world. The other interesting point (and I am generalising, of course) is that Napier people celebrate success across the region, no matter where it occurs, whereas Hastings people take great delight in the occasional Napier failure. It's astounding and makes me shake my head every time I encounter it."

To claim that the spirit of the community changes from generosity to meanness upon crossing the Ngaruroro is nuts - there's not the slightest difference - and can be dismissed as a demagogic rhetoric seeking to arouse prejudice. But where else in New Zealand would an aspiring parliamentarian see it as politically advantageous to so insult the people of a neighbouring electorate?

We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to caste off this albatross.

-Ewan McGregor is a former deputy chairman of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.