Wairarapa backs council merger

Most Wairarapa residents want to be included in a single two-tier council for the Wellington region, suggests a survey by the Local Government Reform Working Party.

A total of 87 per cent of 396 Wairarapa respondents said they wanted to be included in a council for the Wellington region.

However, of the 1230 long form answers from across the region, 44 per cent said Wairarapa shouldn't be included, 33 per cent said it should be included and 22 per cent did not know.

"Of those who did not know, the majority of submissions either said they did not know enough about the Wairarapa and its needs to make an informed decision, or it should be up to the citizens of Wairarapa to decide," said Ken Douglas, chair of the working party, which represents Greater Wellington Region, Wellington City, Porirua City and Kapiti Coast District Councils.

A total of 1560 long and short forms were returned to the party, which asked people if they wanted a single council with one or two tiers of representatives.

It also canvassed if people wanted any change to local government at all.

The single council two tier option proved more popular, especially with those from Wairarapa - out of the 203 long form responses, 75 per cent liked the two tier option.

Wellington city residents' responses were more evenly split with 45 per cent preferring two tier and 38 per cent for one tier.

Over the whole region, the two tier option was favoured by 51 per cent while 28 per cent backed the one tier option and 21 per cent had no response.

The two-tier structure would be made up of a mayor, a governing council of 19 to 21 councillors and 7 or 8 local boards, which may or may not include Wairarapa.

Mr Douglas said a total of 60 per cent of all respondents agreed that changes to councils were needed.

The most common feedback provided by those who backed the reforms said they were needed to overcome duplication, address inefficiencies, and avoid wastage of money and resources.

Almost 2000 submissions were made from across the region, with 41 per cent from Wellington City, 21 per cent from Wairarapa, 13 per cent from Lower Hutt, 9 per cent from Porirua, 7 per cent from Kapiti Coast and 5 per cent from Upper Hutt.

The remainder either did not answer the question or lived outside the region.

The four councils will meet separately over the next few weeks to decide whether or not to make a application to the Local Government Commission.

Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa councils have recently decided to apply to become a single council (unitary authority).

A significant number of people in the survey also suggested a multiple unitary model comprising three authorities: a Hutt Valley council, a Wairarapa council, and a Porirua-Kapiti Coast-Wellington City council.