How much should be read into the strong support given a unitary authority for the Wairarapa region when the general populace were asked to give feedback on the shape of local government reform here.
The stats are impressive, with a report from the Wairarapa Governance Review Working Party telling us that two-thirds of the 1100 respondents were behind the unitary authority proposal they have been touting on behalf of the three district councils.
There are, however, three important points to consider when those figures are being analysed.
Firstly, while the number of replies was encouraging you have to remember they represent a very small percentage of ratepayers across the three councils, something like one-40th I suspect.
Secondly, whereas members of the working party worked hard to promote the unitary authority concept by knocking on doors, street meetings etc there was little, or any, response from their detractors in that respect.