August 20, 2012 11:00am by David Farrar

Wellington Region Local Government Review Panel meetings

For Wellingtonians:

Wellington CBD public meeting
When: Wednesday, August 22 2012 from 12:00pm-1.00pm
Where: Wellington City Library, 65 Victoria Street, Wellington

Khandallah public meeting
When: Wednesday, August 29 2012 from 6:30pm-8.30pm
Where: Khandallah Town Hall, 11 Ganges Road, Khandallah

Newtown public meeting
When: Monday, September 3, 2012 from 5:30pm-7.30pm
Where: Newtown Community Hall, Corner Daniell &Constable Streets, Newtown, Wellington

These meetings will be hosted by members of the independent Panel.

The independent Panel is tasked with exploring the future of local government in the greater Wellington region by seeking public feedback on issues concerning the needs of ratepayers and residents in the region. The Panel consists of Sir Geoffrey Palmer (Chair), Sir Wira Gardiner, Sue Driver and Bryan Jackson.

The Panel recently issued an issues paper focussing on the needs of residents and ratepayers to stimulate discussion on local government reform in the greater Wellington region.

The public meetings are an opportunity for Wellington residents to tell the Panel what they think about how local and regional governance arrangements can best support their local and regional communities in the future.

This might include issues such as:

How to get better community engagement in decision making

The role of local government in building and maintaining core infrastructure (e.g. flood protection, transport)

Ways that local government can manage costs and reduce rates increases

The independent Panel is keen to hear from as many people in the region as possible.

More information is included in the attached media release, and can also be found at www.wellingtonreviewpanel.org.nz.