NRC - Let's do it right

The Northland Regional Council has no doubt that the local government restructuring process that is now under way represents a great opportunity for Northland to establish a new regime that will benefit the entire region, in the form of one unitary authority with local boards elected in seven wards.

It also believes, however, that haste should be made slowly, and that a fresh draft proposal should be issued by the Local Government Commission when (and if) Parliament passes legislation allowing the forming of local boards.

NRC chairman Bill Shepherd told the Northland Age that local boards, which would have much more authority than community boards, and would not be subject to the council's whims, were a bottom line for acceptance of the one-council model.

He also believed that Northland should not lose the opportunity to build the best possible model for the region, however, and that would mean taking a step back from the current timeline.

The existing timetable, he said, not only meant that the region would need to make a decision without knowing that local boards would or could be part of the structure, but would also see Northlanders making a decision without having had time to consider and/or come to understand some major implications.

"Given that the process for allowing Northland to establish local boards is already under way, we believe the commission should wait for that law change and then issue a fresh draft proposal, probably in the second half of this year," he said.

A delay at this point would also enable a law change to allow a wider range of options for Maori representation and involvement in decision-making.

The council did not believe that existing council debts should be ring-fenced for six years, the fairest way forward being the equalisation of all non-targeted rates and standardised minimum levels of service delivery. That would also be the most affordable option.

It wasn't buying the commission's assertion that reorganisation could produce annual savings of around $5 million, and a significant reduction in the number of council support staff, at face value however. Much more analysis and supporting evidence were needed there, Mr Shepherd saying new information about the financial position of some existing councils had come to light since the commission released draft proposal.

"We do agree that a single voice for Northland would be a significant advantage in terms of advocating to central government and other parties though, and should allow for better planning and more efficient services," he added.

"We also agree that service centres should be retained for five years in Kaitaia, Rawene, Kaeo, Kerikeri, Kaikohe, Kawakawa, Ruakaka, Mangawhai and Dargaville, but Opua should be added to the list. The decision regarding services that would be offered from these centres should be left to the transition body that will set up the new unitary authority."

The NRC generally supported the commission's recommendation that the Northland Council should retain the regional council's seven ward boundaries, but believed that any boundary issues raised by communities should be addressed by the commission before final decisions were made. It also supported the establishment of ridings to achieve geographic equity in the election of local board members.

It agreed that all council-controlled organisations (such as Far North Holdings) should transfer to the Northland Council, and that the new authority should be headquartered in Whangarei, whilst supporting the retention/relocation of services in other centres where that could be done efficiently and cost-effectively.