BayBuzz excitedly began reading the latest media release from the HB Regional Recovery Agency touting release of a “joint proposal to central government last week with the aim of securing a new Hawke’s Bay Regional Deal”.

But unfortunately, the body of the announcement added no further information than the headline itself regarding what our leaders have proposed. The headline reads: “Economic growth, infrastructure and housing the focus of Hawke’s Bay Regional Deal Proposal”.

Each of our mayors and HBRC’s chair added their rah-rah, but revealed nothing. Overall, the takeaway from the balance of the release would be: ‘We’re too smart to ask for more money! We just want to assure you we’re in line with the Government’s growth goals, especially when it comes to housing.”

Our elected leaders comments were of the stock variety … ‘Here in HB we’ve rallied behind the regional collaboration banner’.

Although, as usual, Mayor Craig Little added a dose of political reality: “As Mayor of Wairoa, I am committed to ensuring the interests of this town and its communities are well represented in any Regional Deal, as will be the same for my fellow Mayors and Chair.”

The release included this ‘Note to Editor’ explaining why the release had no substantive information: “Councils are required to adhere to the following confidentiality statement until such time they are otherwise advised: ‘The Department of Internal Affairs acknowledges that all parties are expected to treat proposals in confidence as they may contain confidential and commercially sensitive information’.”

So, in short, our elected leaders can’t tell their constituents what ‘Big Deal’ they’re pitching to Government on our behalf. Perhaps that’s for the best, sparing us disappointment. Kept in the dark, we won’t anguish over what we missed out on when the Government says ‘No thanks’!

But wait, it’s too late for that. The media release already spilled the beans … we’re after “economic growth, infrastructure and housing” in case you didn’t read the release’s headline. Our expectations are already soaring!

All regions were invited to submit their ‘deals’ by February 28. The Government has commented: “City and Regional Deals light-touch proposals will now be assessed against the criteria outlined in the strategic framework. The results of the assessment will be provided to Ministers for consideration. The Government will decide which regions progress towards a deal with the intention to have the first deal concluded by the end of 2025. It is expected that three deals will be in place by October 2026.”