Wellington backs Wairarapa vision

The Wellington City Council has formally endorsed Wairarapa's bid to create a single unitary authority.

At a strategy and policy committee meeting on Wednesday councillors voted in favour of a super-city comprising Kapiti, Porirua, Wellington, Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt, and "strongly supported" Wairarapa deciding its own governance, according to Masterton councillor Lyn Patterson.

The Kapiti District Council also voted on Wednesday to support Wairarapa in its bid.

Ms Patterson, who is also chairwoman of the Wairarapa Governance Working Party, attended the Wellington meeting that debated for nearly four hours. She said Wellington was clearly opting for a "metro" city.

"What I was really pleased about, it's showing the whole capital city is taking a leadership role in this debate. What came through for me quite strongly, was the willingness.

"Another government structure over the hill was prepared to work alongside the Wairarapa unitary authority over here." Ms Patterson described how the Wellington councillors saw Wairarapa as "rural provincial", while Wellington was "metro focused".

"Two of the councillors mentioned 'colonised' - they didn't want to be seen as some colonial force, sitting in Wellington, saying let's take over."

There was clear sense that Wairarapa had the right to determine how it was governed, she said.

Another strong point, which sits with Wairarapa thinking, was Wellington wanted a single-tier model, with one mayor and 29 councillors.

The proposal is likely to be at odds with Porirua and Greater Wellington, which favour Auckland's two-tier model.

"It was heartening for me to hear Wellington City Council's strong support for the Wairarapa unitary proposal, and whatever governance structure ends up in metro Wellington, they are keen to work collaboratively for the betterment of this region and the Wellington region."

South Wairarapa District Council Mayor Adrienne Staples said she was very pleased to hear about Wellington's endorsement.

"Wellington had indicated to us they support us doing our own thing.

"But to have it said in public, to have a resolution to that effect, is a very good thing."

Kapiti Coast District Council member K Gurunathan said his council's vote was unanimous in support of Wairarapa's proposal.

"We would prefer a two-tier option, but we have declined to support a joint proposal on a single city option because that proposal includes Wairarapa."