Email reveals amalgamation lacks support

In an email obtained by the Hands off the Hutt group, Fran Wilde admits that the Local Government Commission must obtain “demonstrable support” in the next two weeks or it cannot proceed with its current proposal to amalgamate Wellington’s local government.

In a non-personalised email to an undisclosed mailing list, Fran Wilde explains that the Commission needs evidence of community support from every affected area or “change will not happen”.

Hands off the Hutt Co-leader Chris MacKay says the submissions, which close on 2nd March, are a test of the Commission, of Fran Wilde, and of the GWRC.

“After a year trying to rouse support, Fran Wilde is now desperate. She has only two weeks to find thousands of supporters across the region.

“Ms Wilde’s admission in the email exposes that there was no public support when GWRC made its submission, nor when the Commission embarked on its ‘investigation’, and there has been no groundswell support since its proposal,” he said.

Mr MacKay said the numbers of submissions in favour of amalgamation would have to be in the tens of thousands, and cover the whole region.

“To spend $210m to force change on half-a-million people, there must be no doubt that people demand the change. This stage is a measure of support, not opposition,” he said.

A survey of the region last year indicated that more than 80% of Hutt City residents, and 75% of the region, opposed amalgamation. When Hutt City requested written submissions on the issue from residents in 2013, it received a record, 5000 – more than 80% opposed to any change except service sharing with Upper Hutt.

The Commission is legally obliged to have evidence of “demonstrable community support” for changing the existing system.

ENDS

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