Wellington region Labour MPs

4 December 2014

Statement by Wellington region MPs on local government reorganisation

Labour’s Wellington region MPs will ensure that all people of the region are given the chance to have their say on the proposed reorganisation of local government.

“The proposal for a single Council for the region will cause considerable public concern, and is strongly opposed by many in the region as unworkable and reducing local democracy,” Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson says.

“While there are possible options for reorganisation in the region that could work, they cannot be considered until this proposal has been dealt with.

“Labour believes that decisions about basic democratic rights like this must be made by the people of the region through a referendum. Under the rules set by the National government this is not guaranteed, and has to be triggered by a petition signed by 10 per cent of the voters in one of the affected Councils once a final proposal is announced.

“The next steps are for interested parties to make submissions on the proposal. Labour’s Wellington Regional MPs are encouraging as many people as possible to make their voice heard. If the Local Government Commission stick with their proposal for a single Wellington Council after the submission process, Labour will make sure that a referendum is held and the people of our region do get a say.”

To that end the Labour Wellington region MPs – Grant Robertson, Annette King, Chris Hipkins’ Kris Faafoi, Trevor Mallard, Meka Whaitiri, Rino Tirikatene, and Adrian Rurawhe – have established a website, www.wellingtonhaveyoursay.co.nz (which goes live at 12.30pm) for people to sign up to a campaign to generate submissions on the proposal and ensure there is a referendum.

ENDS

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