‘No friends in the park’: Ngāmotu makes out-of-scope reform bid

New Plymouth is to spend $660,000 to try and influence local council reform, despite not meeting the Beehive’s criteria to take part.

The Government has ordered councils to amalgamate to make local government simpler and cheaper.

It offered councils a ‘Head Start’ pathway to come up with reform proposals – but demanded bids be backed by at least two district councils.

South Taranaki and Stratford councils have agreed on a Head Start merger proposal but rejected the invitation to join with New Plymouth.

Although left without a partner, New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) on Thursday voted to send the Government a ‘Pathway Proposal’ anyway, to meet the deadline this Sunday.

The proposal suggests three options to reform Taranaki councils and is submitted jointly with Taranaki Regional Council (TRC), despite regional councils being excluded from Head Start.

NPDC would share costs with TRC on a $1.3 million ‘Future Local Government Programme Plan’, gathering information so ministers could make better choices on the region’s future next March.

A report to councillors said staff would collect information, analysis and community views on “functions, services, assets, revenues, decision-making responsibilities and delivery arrangements … under different potential models.”

Councillor Gina Blackburn was sceptical but was won over during the debate.

Councillor Gina Blackburn initially spoke against spending $1.3 million when the council had no other district council partner – contrary to the Government’s rules.

“We're in a position where we have no friends in the park,” Blackburn said.

She questioned whether the Future Local Government work would have a meaningful

impact or end up ignored on a shelf.

“Will central government consider any of the information that we provide because we're a singular territorial authority making a submission with a regional council?”

“I need confidence we're buying [useful] evidence … and I currently don't feel I have that.”

However, Blackburn was won over by arguments at the table to vote in favour of the spend.

Mayor Max Brough said more work was needed to find a plan that would work and save money.

Mayor Max Brough said without detailed research Taranaki was rushing to a model that didn’t account for real costs.

Brough said it was clear ministers were focused on making local government cheaper.

“We're asking the staff to … spend a bit of time on a model that does not technically comply and relies on advocacy to the government, and to the ministers that are gonna make this decision based on financial reality.”

“If we don't invest an amount of money now for the future of Taranaki for the next thirty years … then the financial reality will come home to bite.”

Almost half of New Plymouth’s costs would be met within existing budgets and staffing, leaving a $350,000 unbudgeted cash contribution.

The Government told councils to identify a single preferred structure under Head Start.

But NPDC and TRC would put forward three options for Taranaki: a single unitary authority, a combined authority, and two sub-regional councils with a joint committee.

The staff report said the Head Start deadline hadn’t given enough time for research and engagement, including with mana whenua.

Ongoing work would investigate existing Treaty settlement arrangements and different council structures “could support meaningful partnership, participation and local iwi and hapū voice, and identifying the outcomes that iwi, hapū and PSGEs consider important.”

The $660,000 budget for NPDC’s half of the Future Local Government Programme Plan was approved 9-6, with votes against from councillors Murray Chong, John Woodward, Damon Fox, Dinnie Moeahu, EJ Barrett and Graham Chard.

nā Craig Ashworth craig@tekorimako.co.nz

LDR is local body journalism hosted by Te Korimako o Taranaki and funded by Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa and Irirangi te Motu