Chamber Welcomes Release of Local Government Commission Proposal

The Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce welcomes the release of the Local Government Commission Proposal for amalgamation in Wellington. “This proposal has been a long time coming. It is time to engage in a fully informed debate so as to bring about a resolution which will create greater certainty for businesses” says Chair of the Chamber, Liz Koh. “We will be endeavouring to provide objective information to our members that is not clouded by vested interest so they can confidently determine what is in the best interests of Kapiti” says Koh.

“A survey undertaken by the Chamber in May 2012 showed 97% of members wanted some form of structural change for Kapiti, whether that be a unitary authority with some or all of the nine Wellington districts, or shared services with other districts.

The proposal that one council take over the functions of the nine existing councils while sharing decision-making with local boards is an innovative approach that will be considered with keen interest. We will be consulting further with members to obtain their feedback on details of the proposal.

“From a business perspective, key potential benefits from amalgamation could include increased connectivity with the Wellington Region and the ability to tap into additional resources to improve our ability to compete and attract business nationally and internationally. Kapiti is poised for significant population and economic growth over the next decade and we need to ensure we have the resources and expertise on hand to cope with additional demands on our infrastructure and to take advantage of opportunities for economic development. The future for Kapiti is exciting if we work together.”

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