8 March 2013

Daran Ponter, Councillor

Wellington Super City Proposal

The Joint Working Party today released its conclusions on local government reform in the Wellington Region.

The Working Party was formed by Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington and Porirua City Councils and Kapiti City Councils.

Councilor Daran Ponter said "While the report is an interesting read it is effectively the Palmer Report...with pictures"

"It is one of a long line of reports that have trotted out the same arguments for a super city but failed once again to back up the proposal with hard facts on the benefits of a SuperCity."

"The Working Party's Report is disappointing for the fact that it totally ignores the status quo. In a trick that has become all too familiar with Wellingtonians, the Council are now proposing to undertake limited consultation on two options -

• Super City Option 1; and
• Super City Option 2.

"Earlier polls and submission processes have strongly indicated that people across the region want change, but not a SuperCity. Under the Working Party's proposals the options that the community prefer, including the status quo, and the opportunity for a separate unitary authority in the Wairarapa, will not be presented to them. This is disingenuous and undemocratic".

"The report fails once again to provide scenarios that show how Wellingtonian's rates will be affected. This is despite the fact that internal reports within the Wellington City Council show that under a Super City, Wellingtonian's rates will go up!

"This Report is a smoke and mirrors exercise. Fortunately, Wellingtonian's know when they are being fiddled" says Councillor Ponter

Councillor Ponter said that he "anticipated that the consultation would be a half-hearted attempt to engaged with communities." He said that proponents of the Super City had already indicated they would be making an application to the Local Government Commission for a Super City regardless of what communities say."

ENDS

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