Whangarei District Council rejects report urging one authority

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Whangarei District Councillors have rejected a report pushing for one unitary authority in Northland because of inadequate information and process and will instead carry out its own consultation to find out what the public really wants.

The Local Government Commission (LGC) announced last month a draft plan to replace Northland's four local authorities, Whangarei, Kaipara and Far North District and Northland Regional councils, with one authority from November 2015.

Another option for local government reform could be considered, but only if at least 10 per cent of voters from any of the affected councils - about 1300 in the Kaipara, 5400 in Whangarei or 3700 in the Far North - sign a petition calling for a referendum.

Whangarei District Council met recently to discuss the draft proposal and voted to reject it and instead initiate a public engagement programme early next year and commission a survey to get the community's views.

Councillor Greg Innes, who chaired the steering group looking at the proposal, said the proposal had inadequate information and process, while the previous council's position had been for two unitary authorities.

Mr Innes said the proposal was not in Whangarei residents best interest. The LGC's contention that a single unitary authority would give the region the ability to speak with "one voice" had a hollow ring to it.

"The proposal is really a one size fits all based on Auckland [Super city amalgamation] ... Northland isn't Auckland," he said.

There were also concerns the submission period for the public - which the LGC has extended by a week after Northland's council wanted it extended by a month - did not allow enough time as it covered the Christmas/New Year period.

It was notoriously difficult to get people to engage in submission processes during that period and the council will go through an extensive programme with Whangarei residents to gauge their views, with the survey results expected in February so council would then make a formal submission.