Change is coming to local government in waves, often with little notice and not much detail. Across Hawke’s Bay, our councils are good at working together to respond. Regional collaboration is essential. At the same time, we can’t lose sight of our own communities. For me, that’s Napier.
As much as I know our outlook must be broad and our focus long-term, we can’t just look at the needs of the region, or the local government sector. We can’t get sidetracked by imperatives coming from outside the area. Our focus is Napier people, communities, needs, goals, identity and future.
Nobody knows Napier like Napier people do. So this conversation, about where to from here, even though we’ve only just started talking, needs to include Napier’s voice right from the beginning.
Many Napier families have lived and worked in this city for generations. They have chosen to make their life here, to raise families and to build something here. That means they understand this place in a way that no outside process, Wellington reform agenda or regional framework ever will.
There are a lot of voices in this conversation and it is complex. The simple truth though is this: no one else in the room will make Napier their number one priority. That’s our job. If we don’t show up for our city, armed with a clear understanding of what our community values, Napier’s voice risks being lost in the crowd.
Sometimes when services merge or functions are shared, and structures get bigger in the name of efficiency, the focus becomes on managing systems and we lose sight of the people those systems are meant to serve.
It is, therefore, tempting to say that bigger might not mean better, but this kind of talk too early risks closing the door on regional options that could benefit Napier in some areas.
There is a lot of analysis and many discussions underway. The Government is driving change in local government regardless and part of our role at elected representatives is to lead the community through that change thoughtfully. We mustn’t fall into becoming entrenched in one particular position before the options and trade-offs are fully understood.
Whatever shape local government takes in the future, people mustn’t become an afterthought in a larger structure. The people who know this place best need to be active in shaping what comes next. Change must not just happen to the community. It must be shaped by the community.
At this point in time, no decisions have been made. We are at the beginning of the conversation and local voice is needed now. There are no right or wrong answers. We just need to know what the people we represent value so in every discussion we can speak with confidence about what they need.
Like every council in the country we have a survey open for our community to have their say.
There will be more to come and we are committed to keep listening as this process unfolds. Every big conversation starts somewhere and this one starts with the people who know this place best. Structures might change and organisations might grow but whatever comes next local voices must not be lost in the process.
