"I felt that we were being rushed into something with very little research. The main point that came from the local councils was that 'we don't want to be run by Wellington'. I felt it wasn't a very good reason."
He said some form of amalgamation was a good idea but people hadn't realised keeping the regional council was an option.
Former Masterton mayor Frank Cody said the regional council has been performing well and the option to retain it had not been considered properly. "It's been suggested, there's no case to fix something that's not broken."
Mr Cody was in favour of a single council which was once proposed in the eighties.
"It was not widely accepted at that time, I think its time has now come."
Mr Caffell said not enough information was passed on to the public about the importance of the regional council. "I felt the unitary authority was being railroaded through. The unitary authority, in terms of affordability and sustainability, is a real problem."
One South Wairarapa woman, involved in forest restoration, was keen to merge but keep the regional council. "Without the help of GWRC I don't know how we would survive.
"I don't think we could afford the pest control."
Gladstone farmer Rex McKay said he liked the idea of a two-tier structure and the Wairarapa councils merging. "Combined they would be a lot better, then amalgamate the two Hutts, amalgamate the other three if they so wish and keep the regional council over the top."
Wairarapa resident Alan Roy said the commission needed to keep in mind the financial implications for Wairarapa people. "Any increase hits us much harder."
Mr Morrison said the aim for the commission was to find a "nugget of gold" - demonstrable support for one idea.
He said it was important for people to consider where the region's assets were and how they benefit the whole region.
Any change to councils would take effect in November 2015.
