The key reasons for amalgamation are pretty simple in my opinion -- leadership, vision and implementation.
We can no longer work in segments across the Bay. Modern technology and global export competition demand that we work as one economy, not four, to deliver modern services for our citizens and efficient infrastructure for our businesses.
The ever-changing face of computers will increasingly drive the way we interact with local government. While retaining face to face contact for essential services we must move to on-line services where possible. They are efficient, they save time and money, and they can be done from any home or business in the Bay.
Wairoa and the Centra Hawke's Bay councils will quite simply not have the ratepayer resource to deliver this kind of change.
When a tree is felled in Wairoa or a lamb born in Tikokino we need an economy totally focused on maximising the efficiencies of our infrastructure to ensure those products get to market by our roads, port and airport as efficiently as possible.
When a building is erected in Wairoa, Otane, Taradale or Havelock North it needs to be under the same rules.
When a new business opens up the same rules should apply from Mahia to Porangahau. It's crazy that we have four different sets of rules.
When we decide as a region that we need new facilities, such as a new Olympic-sized swimming pool, the drivers of this project should need only go to one council, not five for advice and support.
When we brand our province to the rest of the world we need to be united. We are a drop in the ocean in international tourism and if we don't consistently work together over the long term we will never deliver on the ambition of our tourism sector.
All of these are examples of the need for a common vision and leadership necessary to move us forward together.
It's quite simple, in my opinion. There is no way we can reach our potential if we continue to have five councils, five mayors, and five chief executives, sitting around five different tables trying to debate a common strategy. In my opinion, a clear vision and a clear set of priorities for Hawke's Bay is impossible with the existing local government structure.
Chris Tremain is a former MP for Napier and a former Local Government Minister in John Key's Cabinet.
Business and civic leaders, organisers, experts in their field and interest groups can contribute opinions. The views expressed here are the writer's opinion and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz.
