The proponents of local body amalgamation in Hawke's Bay have released the results of a phone survey which they say shows fewer residents of Napier are opposed to the idea of coalescing.
The poll of 500 people in Napier showed 46 per cent opposed amalgamation of the Napier City Council, Hawke'sBay Regional Council and the Hastings District Council.
The margin of error was plus or minus 4.5 per cent, so as few as 41.5 per cent or as many as 50.5 per cent of people may be opposed.
Statistically it is hardly an accurate barometer but in the battle for the hearts and minds of residents of the two major cities it is a useful step in time for Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule and his pro-amalgamation lobby.
They take heart that it signals a change in public opinion from the referendum of 1999 in which 75 per cent of Napier residents opposed amalgamation.
We can take it for granted that Mr Yule has significant, even if unnamed, backers for his cause. They are likely to be the same Bay business leaders who stumped up $35,000 for his successful re-election campaign in 2010. They donated that money because they believe an amalgamated Hawke's Bay will be a better place in which to live and work. Some of them will be providing ongoing assistance.
Mr Yule has also received the public endorsement of National's Tukituki MP Craig Foss and Napier MP Chris Tremain, but not Labour's Napier list MP Stuart Nash, who opposes amalgamation.
Their first goal is a referendum on amalgamation. To hold one they need a petition signed by 10 per cent of people in each of Wairoa, Napier, Hastings and Central Hawke's Bay. That should be achievable. But a referendum on amalgamation is a far cry from an actual amalgamation.
Napier mayor Barbara Arnott is adamant the majority of people in Hawke's Bay are not interested in such dramatic change and says let's have a referendum on the issue now.
What is missing in this "debate" is real information residents can use to make an informed decision. What will be the actual benefits of an amalgamation?
Mr Yule is promising to answer that question. He needs to.
