Departing Hawke’s Bay regional councillor Martin Williams says the job is now too big for part-timers, and amalgamation to create full-time councillors is the only solution to the region’s problems.
Fifty-six councillors including mayors are currently spread across Hawke’s Bay’s five councils – Wairoa, Napier, Hastings, Central Hawke’s Bay and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council – with another 10 in Tararua.
Williams, who is not putting his hat in the ring again in 2025 after six years on Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, says Cyclone Gabrielle has fast-tracked the need to relook at council amalgamation. Williams said what amalgamation looks like in Hawke’s Bay must be led by locals, but the job of being a councillor in Hawke’s Bay was now too challenging to be done part time.
He says an amalgamated council might have about 20 councillors in full-time roles, paid accordingly, but at an overall level ratepayers could afford.
Williams, a lawyer specialising in local government and environmental law, said he never intended to make a career out of being a councillor. “But the demands of the role at this time in history, when the chickens of climate change and decades of underinvestment in infrastructure have come home to roost on our watch, are more than I think people realise or give credit for.
“Being a lawyer is a demanding profession, and I can’t be half or a third of a lawyer and do justice to either role. “The job has just got too big for people with other jobs,” he said. “I wanted to contribute and I’ve learned a hell of a lot. In the six years I’ve been a councillor it’s been everything but usual. There’s been drought, floods, a cyclone, and a pandemic. “It’s challenging and frustrating but I’m proud that we have stuck together.”
He said the region had amazing councillors, who had given years of dedicated service, but the cyclone had placed immense pressure and stress on the system as a whole. “There have been examples of councils retreating to their corners on issues like tourism, economic development, coastal hazards and civil defence in response to that pressure and squabbling over who is paying for this or that. “We don’t sing from the same song sheet when we are under so much pressure.”
He said full-time councillors were the only realistic way the region could affordably and effectively meet the challenges presented by climate change, achieve flood resilience and water security, and confront an otherwise overwhelming regional infrastructure deficit. “We don’t have the time nor the luxury any longer, not to do this.” Williams said he had contributed where he could and learned a lot. “I have nothing but respect for those who are up for another round of three years, they face a massive challenge. “But it is time for me to move on to other challenges.”
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Nice to see that at least one councilor in the region has his head screwed on right – our small population base is vastly over-represented by councils/councilors – in proportion probably far more than say Auckland. The last vote had Napier screaming about Hastings debt – but nobody there considered Napier’s “deferred maintenance” – and that’s come out of the woodwork over fairly recent times. Such a small population should be under one council, with decently paid full time councilors, and amalgamated services and equipment – there has to be a regional strategy – as demonstrated by the cyclone response. Forget the prejudices – look at reality people!
Most sensible idea I have heard of for a long time. 5 councils for population of 150k people is ridiculous. Its expensive and more importantly inefficient in terms of overall direction for our province.
A review of the functions and responsibilities of Councils is definitely worthy of serious considerations. There is a option to Amalgamation. The cost to the public could certainly be reduced if resources are efficiently managed at a District level and divesting the responsibilities of the Regional Council to those Councils.
The Hawkes Bay Regional Council has struggled to be fit for purpose.
Another reason it makes little sense to pay rates that return questionable value.
Just moved to Napier in time for the last, stupidly, doomed amalgamation vote. ‘Look at Auckland’ the detractors cried. Well it works brilliantly in Auckland, and has since its inception.
Now is the time to bring HB together and stop the senseless repetition.