27 March, 2013

Extra Local Govt reform meets for Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Mangawhai

Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Mangawhai are the latest additions to a series of Northland Regional Council public meetings on possible local government reform.

The regional council has been attempting to gather as much public feedback as possible ahead of a tight 15 April deadline imposed by the Local Government Commission.

The commission – which is processing a bid by the Far North District Council to become a unitary authority in its area – has asked other councils in the region, including the regional council, to put forward alternatives by Monday 15 April.

Council Chairman Craig Brown says the commission has refused requests to extend the deadline, so the council has been holding a series of urgent eleventh-hour meetings to seek the public’s views on what form they think local government should take in the region.

Mr Brown says a series of constructive and useful meetings have already been held this week in Whangarei and Kaikohe and two more were to be held in Dargaville today (subs: Weds 27 March).

Despite the rapidly approaching deadline, councillors had now also asked staff to organise meetings in Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Mangawhai after the Easter break in a bid to try to gather feedback from as many local communities as possible.

The latest meetings will take place at:

Kaitaia, Tuesday 02 April:

Time: 6pm - 8pm – public information and discussion session

Venue: The Northerner Hotel, corner 33 North Rd and Kohuhu St

Kerikeri, Wednesday 03 April:

Time: 6pm - 8pm – public information and discussion session

Venue: Turner Centre, 43 Cobham Rd

Mangawhai, Thursday 04 April:

Time: 6pm - 8pm – public information and discussion session

Venue: Mangawhai Library Hall, corner Insley and Moir Sts.

Mr Brown reiterated earlier comments that the regional council had always intended to carry out a detailed and relatively lengthy consultation programme over a number of months, however the commission’s 15 April deadline had effectively forced its hand.

He says what happens after 15 April will then be up to the commission, but irrespective, Northlanders will still get the opportunity to have their say.

“If the commission decides it does want to change the current model of local government in Northland, it will put forward a proposal and invite public submissions.”

“If that happens, the Northland Regional Council will continue to seek input from the public to ensure any subsequent submission it makes on their behalf is as robust – and representative of the wider community’s viewpoints – as possible.”

Mr Brown says information about the reform issue – including a background paper – is available from the regional council’s website via: www.nrc.govt.nz/LGreform

ENDS

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