Today (16 July), the CHB, Napier and Hastings Councils crossed the Rubicon, voting to proceed with amalgamation in the form of a single unitary authority.

The North/South split was dead on arrival.

There are still two exit ramps – these three councils (with Wairoa remaining still a wild card) could fail to reach agreement on a topline structure to present to Government on 9 August, or achieving that, they could fail by March 2027 to develop the detailed proposal due then for approval by the Government that must resolve all the sticky representation issues.

But if our councils fail at either of those points, the Government will dictate the structure it wants.

Having watched all three debates, I would say no fireworks or significant last ditch resistance surfaced at any of the councils. At NCC, historically the bastion of opposition to amalgamation, only Mayor McGrath voted against proceeding, but he characterised his vote as a protest against the time constraint on the process imposed by Government, as opposed to resistance to change.

Overall, today’s actions represent, as Julius Caesar put it: ‘Alea iacta est’ … the die is cast!

That said, various councillors did criticise the pace of the process, or express nervousness over local voice (pro and con), and/or want more detail to be finally assuaged. Challenging negotiations do lie ahead for the participating councils. So they will be workshopping their butts off over the next three weeks to find common ground, both within and across councils.

From comments around the council tables and as indicated during public consultations, the key issues to resolve during the pre-9 August window will be:

• The actual seating plan – how many councillors, wards/constituencies, special voting requirements, Māori representation, how to choose a ‘regional’ mayor?

• Localism – given the need to weigh affordability against cost of two-tier governance, what delegation of decision-making should occur, if any, below the unitary level (e.g., local boards, with voting authority or just advisory, and which matters at which levels)?

• Incorporating the management of functions previously the responsibility of the HB Regional Council.

Leaving as perhaps the most suspenseful question: Will Mayor Craig Little cross the Mohaka? 

Wairoa and CHB have very understandable shared concerns as rural, smaller councils. CHB has opted to press its case inside the tent; it’s quite mysterious why Wairoa finds such collaboration disadvantageous.

All in all, a historic day for Hawke’s Bay. With significance for the viability of the region well beyond the mechanics of local governance.