Council resolves to respond to central government on reform
Taupō District Council has today expressed its strong opposition to being included in a Head Start outline proposal for a Western Waikato Unitary Authority.
The proposal is being put forward by Waikato, Waipā and South Waikato district councils but without Taupō’s consent. Hamilton City Council has also elected not to be involved.
Today’s session followed a meeting on 28 July where Taupō District Council resolved to respond to the Central Government’s Head Start process by expressing its opposition to mandatory council amalgamation and frustration at the short timeframes. It confirmed that if required to amalgamate in future, its preferred option would be to form a sub-regional unitary authority.
At this morning’s meeting, councillors voted to approve a response to Central Government stating that Taupō wishes to continue to explore amalgamation options but outside of the rushed three-month timeframe. It will also state Taupō’s preference to join with Ruapehu, Waitomo and Ōtorohanga district councils if it is forced to amalgamate; and confirm its strong opposition to being named in the Western Waikato Unitary Authority Head Start proposal.
Cr Steve Manunui summed up by saying that the council was not asking Government to put it into the Backstop process.
“None of these options currently before us, including the Western Waikato, are ready or right for Taupō, right here right now.
“A decision of this magnitude needs careful consideration, not one driven by compressed timeframes from Wellington,” Cr Manunui said.
“I think it’s important to let our community know that our recommendation is not a Backstop proposal. It’s a request for more time to pursue the right Head Start. What’s to come out is, neighbouring councils will have time to declare their positions, genuine partnership opportunities can be explored through open, transparent and respectful discussions.
“Given the current circumstances, requesting more time is the most responsible decision we can make for our community.”
Cr Rachel Cameron said the rushed timeframe and central government’s ‘lead your own reform or we will do it for you’ approach was not conducive for getting the right outcomes for the Taupō District community.
“By every metric we’ve looked at, financial and non-financial, our district is absolutely not better off. We realise that we’re probably going to have to take one for the team under amalgamation, but not like this. Give us the chance to do it properly.”
Cr Wahine Murch argued that Taupō should be teaming up with other councils to push back against Government.
She also said that the “flawed process” went against the Local Government Act 2002, which specifies that communities should be consulted on significant decisions.
“They are asking us to go against the very law that we are bound by. They are asking us to go against what their own laws say and that is very concerning to me.”
Cr Hope Woodward said the key question was whether the reform would achieve a better local government system and leave communities stronger.
“If we can’t confidently answer that, then we still have a lot of work to do.”
Deputy Mayor Kevin Taylor characterised the process as “rushed, ill-conceived - and for councils that are ready. We are not.”
“I will not be party to a proposal that sells our district down the river.”
Many councillors criticised the process and pointed out that simply changing local government structures would not automatically create efficiencies.
Cr Ngahuia Foreman said she could not understand why any council would voluntarily join a Head Start proposal without having had the time to have full discussions first.
“If we can’t tell you what it’s going to look like after amalgamation, why would we enter into one? It’s just not right. We wouldn’t be good kaitiaki or councillors on behalf of ratepayers if we were to decide to go into this. We want more time, we know this is coming, we want to be open and transparent about what it’s going to involve.”
