Talk turns to future of Bay

Voters have said no to amalgamation.

The region has voted in emphatic fashion and council leaders are respecting the democratic process moving forward.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Fenton Wilson said he recognises there is work to be done for Hawke's Bay to prosper.

"It's going to take all hands to the pump, so let's get on with it," he said, "this is Hawke's Bay's time".

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said the "shadow" of amalgamation had lifted over Wairoa. He told Hawke's Bay Today he was "thrilled to bits".

His Napier counterpart Bill Dalton said the result was a "resounding message".

"It's no secret this result is what I was hoping for. It's been a long process, and in my book a complete waste of time, resources and money ... there's no way it will be status quo going forward," Mr Dalton said.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said he was shocked at the landslide victory.

"It's big, it's huge. There is no other way of putting it, it's a massive swing against," Mr Yule said.

"But I accept that the people have said that they don't necessarily believe that there should be a change in structure, and they have voted in droves accordingly."

Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Peter Butler said he had no idea what to expect leading up to the final result but concluded that "it went out to the whole of Hawke's Bay and Hawke's Bay has spoken".

Tukituki MP Craig Foss said the result offered opportunities for the Bay.

"But it now gives the region an opportunity to rethink and rework how all five councils can manage Hawke's Bay better.

"Hawke's Bay now has the opportunity for councils to work collaboratively for improved services and plans across the region."

Napier MP Stuart Nash claimed the "bogeyman on the shoulder" had gone.

He said the pro-amalgamation lobby had completely "out spent" his team.

"Amalgamation was dominating, now we can move forward."

Anti-amalgamation campaigner Mike Butler said the whole process was just an exercise in dirty politics.

"We've seen dirty politics. This is sneaky politics. Voters have seen through this and voted accordingly," he said.

A Better Hawke's Bay (ABHB) chairperson Rebecca Turner said this referendum was a once-in-a-generation opportunity and now it is gone.

"So it is now actually up to the elected representatives to ensure that they do work together," she said.

The next challenge for the Hawke's Bay will be an economic one, said Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley.

Speaking from San Francisco last night, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Massey University, said there has been a lot of talk invested in the political debate.

"The opinion that has now been voiced though the democratic process has to be respected," he said.

"The challenge [now] will be an economic one and that is how a regional economy acts together in its own interests.

"In the sense that political participation and opinion has sort of been thrown off against economic development."