Masterton backs single council

The three Wairarapa councils will merge into one if an application made by Masterton District Council is passed.

At a Masterton District Council meeting yesterday, councillors voted seven to four for a Wairarapa unitary authority.

An application will be made to the Local Government Commission for the reorganisation of South Wairarapa, Carterton and Masterton district councils which will mean a single Wairarapa council would be responsible for all district and regional activities.

Councillor Gary Caffell put forward an alternative council amalgamation which suggested the amalgamation of the three Wairarapa councils and the retention of the Greater Wellington Regional Council in its current form.

Mr Caffell said in an email exchange with Carterton Mayor Ron Mark, who has actively supported the unitary authority, that Mr Mark said 51 per cent of Carterton people wanted no change but were smart enough to know legislation had changed and they must make a choice.

"We know we have two dead rats in front of us and we have to swallow one ... and that is why we opted for the Wairarapa unitary authority," Mr Mark wrote.

Mr Caffell said Mr Mark appeared to be saying the unitary authority was the better of two rats. "You are being told by one of the people that was at the front of this promotion that you are voting for a dead rat," Mr Caffell said.

Mr Caffell's notice of motion was supported by councillors David Holmes, Chris Peterson and Doug Bracewell. Seven councillors voted against the motion.

Mr Holmes said the final decision was probably the most important decision Wairarapa has had to make since amalgamation talks started.

"I'm 100 per cent for amalgamating the three councils in the Wairarapa but a unitary authority here, for me, doesn't stack up and there are far too many assumptions. This whole process is not about egos, it's about the best result for the Wairarapa."

Mr Peterson said if Wairarapa goes it alone "we'll always be penny pinching".

"Being part of a bigger and more diverse entity gives us greater strength.

"I think that we need to think of that bigger picture and we need to be bold and not look at a future which may be passable or okay but one that will be bright and better for our children, and I think part of that is hanging on to the coat-tails. We're in the tent now, why on earth would we want to leave?"

Lyn Patterson was one of the councillors who voted against Mr Caffell's motion.

"This is about Wairarapa people making Wairarapa decisions. That is why I strongly support a Wairarapa unitary authority. I think we should be in charge of our own destiny.

"We can be visionary and inspirational, we don't need to fly on the coat-tails of any city, we can make our own decisions."