Hutt Valley businesses undecided on Super City proposal

Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce
MEDIA RELEASE
TUESDAY 24th February 2015

Hutt Valley businesses undecided on Local Government Commission’s Super City proposal

A Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce business survey released today shows that its members are undecided on the benefits the current Local Government Commission’s proposal will have on their businesses.

“We’ve listened to our members and engaged with the Hutt Valley business community across the region. Overall the response is mixed and shows that businesses are yet to make up their minds on the Local Government Commission’s proposal,” says Mark Futter, Chief Executive of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce surveyed its members over a four week period in January and February 2015, with 540 respondents. The survey asked a series of questions about the draft proposal, with the balance of sentiment being unfavourable on the current draft proposal.

“While many respondents did not readily accept the proposal in its current draft form, the balance of sentiment shows that many are open to some form of change or are undecided.

“As the results are not conclusive, it would therefore be difficult for the Hutt Valley Chamber to support or give an overwhelming mandate to one particular perspective in this debate,’ says Futter.

“What picture this does provide, is that there is a real need to better engage the business community in the debate. To date this hasn’t been done as well as it could.”

“We believe there is real merit to continue the debate through to a referendum. The Hutt Valley Chamber will be advocating for this in our submission to the Local Government Commission.

The Hutt Valley Chamber is hosting an ANZ Bank sponsored debate tomorrow night (Wednesday 25 February) with both Greater Wellington Council Chair Fran Wilde and Hutt Valley Mayor Ray Wallace, representing the each side of the debate. We welcome all members of the business community to attend.

ENDS

Notes to ed – For more details on the debate please see here, http://www.hutt-chamber.org.nz/page/event-details.aspx?id=1567 and to register.

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