Napier Mayor Bill Dalton
Now that the appetite for amalgamation in Hawke's Bay has diminished significantly, there are those casting around looking for alternatives.
The Len Brown "all in one inefficient basket" scheme is not going to fly so they are looking to the Fran Wilde "gain control through the regional council" scheme.
Why do we do that? Why do we insist on looking outside Hawke's Bay for some unproven scheme that may or may not work here?
Why don't we acknowledge all the positive advantages we have here in the Bay and build on them?
Why don't we acknowledge the progress that has been made over the last couple of years and get behind those who are making things happen?
Despite the negative picture that some, for their own political gain, have painted of Hawke's Bay over recent years, we have a lot going for us.
We all know about the climate and wonderfully productive soils.
We all know about our port and airport and the significant benefits these well-run facilities bring to the region.
We all know about our sporting facilities and our ability to host major events. Why aren't we shouting our good news story from the rooftops?
The key to getting the governance and direction right for Hawke's Bay is engagement with our communities.
The plan to amalgamate has failed because we did not take our communities on that journey.
The very notion that creating one council of just 18 councillors representing a huge geographically diverse province like Hawke's Bay, is progress doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Provincial councils were thrown out years ago because they were no longer fit for purpose.
What Hawke's Bay needs is unity of purpose and that is up to us all.
Replacing our elected councils with local boards that have no ability to do anything would be counter-productive.
A great deal of progress has been made over the last couple of years in setting up structures that will benefit the whole region. Business HB is now up and running and developing a business strategy to lead the region to greater prosperity.
It was disappointing to read in a recent Talking Point that some business leaders can't be bothered being part of that process but I know that won't deter the good team at Business HB. They will get good support from those of us with a positive view of the future.
In Napier we have the best qualified business development team in New Zealand bar none.
We have seconded our senior manager to Business HB to assist them with writing a comprehensive strategy with a focus on business attraction - a strategy that will benefit the whole region.
HB LASS is a company set up by the Hawke's Bay councils to transact business where there is an advantage in doing things collaboratively.
Recently HB LASS completed negotiations to renew the insurance policies for all local councils resulting in a saving of $950,000 across the region.
The inter-sectoral group is made up of the mayors and CE's from across the region, the chair of HBRC, local MPs, local Maori leaders, heads of the DHB, police, fire, CYPS and other government and semi-government agencies.
This group is exactly what this newspaper and others are suggesting should be set up. It is already up and running and starting to get runs on the board.
The future for Hawke's Bay is a positive one - we just have to believe in ourselves.
We have to stop looking over the fence with envy and get on with the job of making the Bay the best place it can be.
We have to forget about importing some untried or tried and failed restructuring scheme and get on with the job of creating a better Hawke's Bay.
We have to put positive plans in front of those areas and sectors of our communities that are creating the negative statistics. We have to stop telling the rest of New Zealand and beyond that we are a hopeless case.
I for one have a very positive view of the future of Hawke's Bay.
In the immediate future I look forward to the day when the divisive and personally damaging amalgamation campaign is behind us. I look forward to the day when we, no matter what view we held during the amalgamation debate, can all just get on with creating a strong, prosperous and vibrant Hawke's Bay. I look forward to seeing what Hawke's Bay, united in a common cause, can become.
-Bill Dalton is Mayor of Napier.
-Business and civic leaders, organisers, experts in their field and interest groups can contribute opinions. The views expressed here are the writer's personal opinion and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz.