Amalgamation Postscript

 Published HBT 18/09/15

The votes are in and counted and the community has rejected a single council for Hawke’s Bay. Whilst many people agree change is necessary they were clearly not convinced amalgamation was the right way forward. It might have been a different result but for one official organisation, one group of people and one individual. 

The official organisation is, of course, the Local Government Commission which has made a complete hash of the whole process. It’s one standard plan for local government throughout the country was unimaginative, unrealistic and unjustified. The NO message was clear from the Far North, emphasised by Winston Peter’s bi-election win. It was also clear in Wellington where both the Wairarapa and the Hutt Valley were more than willing to combine into single councils, but the Commission’s determination to have just one council covering all of the lower North Island scuttled any chances of change. And now it has failed in Hawke’s Bay where the Commission was determined not to listen to the voices of concern and instead barged ahead. Stuart Nash’s election win was clear evidence of what was to follow. 

Including Wairoa, two hours driving from the Bay cities, was mad and shows  just how out of touch these people were. The LGC failed to provide the details necessary to help people make a decision. The promised cost savings kept shrinking and in any case were based on the Winder report for which neither the wider community nor most Councillors had any input, nor were they given any opportunity to question the author. In the case of the Hastings District Council those consulted were hand picked by the Mayor, clearly in the expectation they would kowtow to the official council position. Much was made of reducing in the number of councillors from the present 57 but the proposed plan had at least 56 and many of these were appointees and not elected. There was no democracy costing but independent estimates were the cost of democracy would increase by over $1 million a year. No management organisation was specified, no staff reductions detailed, and the likely salaries and other benefits for key staff in the new organisation were not mentioned.  

The  failure by the  LGC to release results of their telephone survey suggested they must have known it’s proposal was already dead in the water. Clearly by not reappointing Basil Morrison  and the other Commissioners, Government has signalled it’s lack of confidence in this failed team. 

The group that probably contributed most to the amalgamation defeat was, A Better Hawke’s Bay, and its successor Amalgamate Hawke’s Bay. If nothing else it’s campaign proved money is not everything. These people spent a huge but undisclosed sum pushing their agenda, but failed to appreciate the negative aspects of their campaign. The leaflets, hundreds of signs, excessive newspaper and radio advertising plus the audio assaulting mobile loud speakers left people asking just who was providing the funding, how much was being spent, and what did they hope to gain?  The slogans were seen as superficial, inappropriate, and meaningless. Even the claim that amalgamation would bring Jetstar to Hawke’s Bay had to be dropped when that outcome was achieved before the vote had even started. The claim of increased fish numbers was simply fanciful. Even the tone of much of their correspondence was a serious put off to many even though those of the opposite view used the same sort of language at times.  People expected better from those claiming to be the region’s elite.

A major mistake was the selection of speakers for the great amalgamation debate. While including Mayor Yule was predictable, Rick Barker seemed all bluster and no preparation, whilst Ngahiwi Tomoana apparently had nothing to say so he got out his guitar for a sing along. 

The last put off was Mayor Yule himself. Whilst clearly a favourite of the pro-group, whose support could be taken for granted anyway, it did not work with many undecided voters many of whom  felt it was an attempt to create a further extension to his 21 years in Local Government, plus a means to disown many of Hastings well known problems. Additionally rushing off to China in the middle of voting may not have been wise. 

One matter is clear. This was a Government initiative and since it has failed so miserably and predictably, perhaps the Crown should now compensate local councils for the costs and disruption caused by the whole sordid and unnecessary business.