Wairarapa authority backed

A Wairarapa unitary authority has gained support from most of the Wellington region after a regional hui this week.

Representatives from the region's nine councils attended the hui on Wednesday.

Wellington councils have been investigating options for future local governance. Wairarapa councils commissioned their own report and are considering options to become a single unitary authority, separate from the rest of Wellington.

The hui was chaired by Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace, who said Wairarapa's presentation for a unitary authority was "well received by a majority" in attendance. "Wairarapa are probably the best prepared of all the authorities in the region."

He said it was a robust meeting, which emphasised the councils' commitment to representing the views of their communities.

"It was an extremely productive meeting. Various options were discussed, ranging from a single Wellington regional authority, a two-tier system and unitary authorities," he said.

Local Government New Zealand president Lawrence Yule said the meeting was one of the best discussions about local governance he had seen.

Wairarapa Governance Review Working Party chair Lyn Patterson said those in attendance agreed only Mr Wallace would speak to media. The three Wairarapa councils will hold special council meetings to discuss the future of governance today at 3pm.