Editorial: Have say in your council

If you want changes made to local government in Northland, then speak now or forever hold your peace.

The Far North District Council is already well down the legislative track in pursuing the right to become a single unitary authority.

In other words, self governing on all local matters, including those carried out by the Northland Regional Council.

If this went ahead, what would it mean for the NRC, the Whangarei District Council and the Kaipara District Council. One view is to simply amalgamate the three bodies in a single authority. And in some ways this makes sense, given the KDC current financial crisis and civic management woes. However, there are several options.

• 
  Retaining the status quo with the Northland Regional Council (NRC) and the Whangarei, Kaipara and Far North district councils.
• 
  Enhance the status quo with stronger collaboration between the present four councils.
• 
  Whangarei and Kaipara districts amalgamating, NRC and FNDC staying as they are.
• 
  One unitary authority - all Northland councils combining, as has happened in Auckland.
• 
  Two authorities, with one council covering the Far North, the other governing a combined Whangarei and Kaipara.
• 
  Three unitary authorities - NRC powers transferred to Whangarei, Kaipara and Far North.

Public meetings will be held at Forum North next Tuesday and Wednesday to obtain public input.

The LGC has given the WDC an April 15 deadline to apply for any changes.

The WDC is also looking at how it could improve "grassroots" representation through ratepayer groups or community boards.

WDC chief executive officer Mark Simpson says Maori representation is also an important issue, with options including Maori seats and committee structures.

After April 15, the LGC will determine its preferred option for Northland. If change is involved, then a draft proposal would be developed and publicly notified.

Public submissions on the draft would be considered and the commission would then decide whether a final proposal should be issued and notified. If a final proposal was issued, a poll on the proposal can be requested by 10 per cent of the electors in any one of the affected districts within 60 days.

If a poll is held, 50 per cent of those who vote in it must support the proposal to trigger change.