Extra week for Northland considered good will gesture
News Release
28 November 2013
Extra week for Northland considered good will gesture by Commission
Whangarei Mayor Sheryl Mai has succeeded in her bid on behalf of Northland’s Mayoral Forum to extend the consultation period on a proposed single unitary authority for the region. The submission period will now close on 21 February 2014.
“We asked the Local Government Commission for an extra month because of the consultation days we will lose between Christmas and New Year and in the weeks spanning Auckland Anniversary and Waitangi weekend,” Mayor Mai said.
“The timeframe for consulting with the public is still very tight, but we do appreciate the extra week. On the upside, this is a time of year when people will be moving around within our region and will have time to reflect and to look at the issue from different perspectives.
“In our District, with a coastal population that increases from 11,913 people to 36,908 in the summer, it may provide opportunities for absentee owners to be more involved too.”
Mayor Mai said Council
would discuss its approach to the LGC’s proposal for one
unitary authority for Northland at a workshop on 4 December
and the matter would come before the full Council on 18
December.