“SUPERSIZE WELLINGTON – no thanks!” says Celia Wade-Brown
 
 
Cr Celia Wade-Brown says questions posed by the Mayoral Forum must not be designed to be answered with the single answer “amalgamate”.
 
Auckland fails to achieve the compact walkable city success that Wellington has. Christchurch has a far bigger area under control of one city council but that doesn’t make its urban form more successful. “Our cosmopolitan city with world-class natural advantages must not be put at risk by individual ambitions or assumptions.” says Ms Wade-Brown
 
Cr Wade-Brown says “Ask our communities what the governance issues, problems and opportunities are without predetermined questions and surveys.”  Maybe issues are passed from one agency to another, sometimes there are overlaps or gaps. The current proposal to engage with the public on a preferred option in March 2012 is far too late.
 
Secondly, she asks “Why limit the scope just to what we deliver now. That sounds like we are dancing to Rodney Hide’s tune not determining our own future. Some central government functions might be better delivered locally or at least co-located.”
 
Finally, Celia Wade-Brown says “Let’s look for cost savings where they don’t reduce democracy. Shared computer systems make sense. Shared procurement of products and services has advantages.  Collaboration on regional issues like waste minimisation, water conservation and a healthier economy makes sense and is happening already. A larger organisation is not necessarily more efficient.”
 
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