As a contribution to the local government reorganisation (aka, amalgamation) debate, former Hasting councillor and mayoral candidate Marcus Buddo has offered a HB Reorganisation Proposal, explained in a 23-page report, Hawke’s Bay Together.
At the outset it should be noted that Buddo can’t quite come to grips with all of Hawke’s Bay – he excludes Wairoa from his model, which will be music to Wairoa Mayor Craig Little’s ears.
Buddo’s reasoning: “Due to geographical isolation, distinct catchments, lower impact of efficiencies of scale and separate job markets, the Wairoa District will be excluded from this merger.” Other than suggesting Wairoa might have more in common with Gisborne, Buddo leaves that council twisting in the wind.
Otherwise, his proposal is structurally straightforward – one council combining Napier, Hastings, CHB and the Regional Council, with a single mayor and 10 “well paid, competent, fulltime” councillors, each representing a ward to improve accountability. And, in a nod to localism, a supporting cast of Community Boards (for rural areas only), populated by part-time elected members.
As he summarised the benefits of this amalgamation:
“The plan benefits ratepayers through lower rates and better efficiencies, improving accountability of politicians, and reduces the complexity of dealing with five separate councils. It achieves this by eliminating duplicate administrations, harmonising district plans, aligning river catchment systems, and allowing Hawke’s Bay to speak with a single voice to central government.”
Whatever one thinks of Buddo’s plan structure, his report is well-researched and indeed provides a good starting informational base for debate.
You can download the Buddo reorg plan here.
Mr Buddo’s plan whereby he excludes Wairoa is flawed and I doubt if the community of Wairoa, when they reflect on his proposal, will be happy either. You cannot force Wairoa to go north because that puts them over the iwi boundary. Currently, they are isolated but with the planned upgrades to SH2, this will become less of an issue. In all other respects, Wairoa is not much different to CHB and both communities are fundamentally part of the Hawke’s Bay Region.
Wairoa need to look at their situation very carefully. Whilst geographically they might have more in common with Gisborne there are other considerations at play. Nevertheless, they need to make some sensible decisions and rapidly.
I have heard that Wairoa is toying with the idea of becoming a standalone unitary council by absorbing regional council duties. The govt won’t allow it of course. And neither should they.
I’m just so pleased the govt has stepped in to bring some commonsense to the costly, fragmented local governance that Hawke’s Bay has suffered from for too many decades.
I like Marcus Buddo’s approach to streamlining it. Just waiting for the yelling about “local character” to start now, as the deadline approaches and patch protection takes hold.