Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule is on the pro-amalgamation team.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule is on the pro-amalgamation team.
If you have a view on the future direction of our province, make sure that you are at Napier Boys' High School at 6.30pm tomorrow.
Hawke's Bay Today is holding a public meeting on the amalgamation of our five local councils and it promises to be a good night. Thanksto Napier Boys for allowing us the use of their hall. Great community service indeed.
We have secured a top line-up of speakers and we will be able to hear both sides of the argument ahead of the very important referendum next month. The pro-amalgamation team will comprise Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule, Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana and Hawke's Bay Regional councillor Rick Barker. The anti-amalgamation side will be made up of Napier Mayor Bill Dalton, MP for Napier Stuart Nash and Mike Butler of the Hastings against Amalgamation group.
The local council representatives in these teams are speaking in their own capacity and are not representing their councils. I have heard five of these men speak before and they are all good debaters. I will be moderating the debate so if you have a question you want me to ask, email me at editor@hbtoday.co.nz
Hawke's Bay Today believes its role is to inform and to give readers and the general public access to information. It doesn't come more directly than straight from the leaders of our communities. This issue is a huge one for our region because so much is at stake.
Unfortunately, there are so many different facts and figures being tossed around that most people I know find it quite confusing. Hopefully our debate tomorrow will give people the chance to make up their own minds.
After all, it is the people of Hawke's Bay who will decide, not the politicians.
