Hawke’s Bay amalgamation

Stuff reports:

Five councils could become one in Hawke’s Bay – despite resistance from all but one mayor.

Mayors generally do not want to lose their jobs.

The Local Government Commission revealed yesterday a recommendation to create a single Hawke’s Bay Council for the region, encompassing the city, district and regional councils into a unitary authority, in a decision being watched by other areas investigating council mergers.

There would be one council, one mayor and one voice, chairman Basil Morrison said. It would stop rivalry and lack of co-operation between local authorities, which were holding back development in the region, he said.

The rivalry and infighting is massive. Napier and Hastings especially have this weird fetish of trying to have as little to do with each other as possible, despite being close to each other than some suburbs in Auckland.

Combining Napier, Hastings, Wairoa, Central Hawke’s Bay and the regional council could save up to $10 million a year, he said.

Not a small amount for a region of 150,000.

Mr Dalton was confident the “ridiculous notion” could be defeated. “Thinking people right across Hawke’s Bay will rise up and reject this arrogant suggestion,” he said. “Regardless of whether the administration centre goes to Napier or Hastings, there will be massive job losses. Surrounding businesses will suffer and I’m sure many will be forced to close their doors.”

Mr Dalton thinks the more jobs you have funded by ratepayers the better it is for businesses. It obviously does not occur to him that if businesses have lower rates, that is great for them.

But I doubt reform will happen. Napier residents are too against it.