Minister wants governance rejig

NEW LOOK NEEDED: Local Government Minister Paula Bennett.

Local Government Minister Paula Bennett has delivered a wake-up call to the Wellington region, calling for "a mature look" at local governance structures, regardless of the failure of the super-city proposal.

In a speech at the Local Government New Zealand Annual Conference in Rotorua on Tuesday, Mrs Bennett referred to the Northland and Greater Wellington amalgamation proposals and said that while they were "off the table", regions could not continue as they have.

"We simply have to look at growth across a region, and your current structure does not strategically or cohesively support that."

Mrs Bennett commented on the "ridiculous" problems caused by small councils with different rules for growth and infrastructure, separate wastewater treatments, and differing regulations.

"I will not legislate for large amalgamation. I am tired, as our communities are, of having an argument over how many mayors there should be and over whom is bigger than whom and which area will dominate."

She said the Local Government Commission, with two new commissioners, would be taking on the issue of sustainable growth and cohesion in the Wellington and Northland communities, among others.

The new commissioners are Sir Wira Gardiner and Leigh Auton, alongside Janie Annear.

Mrs Bennett said one example was regions ending up with a Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) to handle water or transport.

"It could mean a different business structure or increased responsibilities and accountabilities for regional councils. Some councils may choose to amalgamate."

Mrs Bennett said she had zero interest in imposing unwanted change.

"But let me be clear - there will be change."

Carterton Mayor John Booth, who attended the conference with Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson and South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples, said Mrs Bennett's speech matched a lot of what he wanted.

He said the idea of the Local Government Commission working alongside councils was a welcome shift from a "dictatorial" commission.

"We'd be very foolish if we didn't take on board what she said. If we don't make the effort, she'll do it for us."

Mr Booth believes Wairarapa is ready to work with a commission under a "work together" ethos.

"People run around and say, let's amalgamate, it's easy, but the Minister has said: 'Let's look at everything'. We understand things could be better, and we have to take a Wairarapa-wide view.

"We've got a great opportunity to be sensible."

He thinks any changes should target the 2019 local body elections.