Malcolm Dixon: United we stand, divided we fall

Malcolm Dixon

Over recent weeks Hawke's Bay has entertained people from across the province, throughout New Zealand and around the world at two outstanding events. Art Deco and Horse of the Year were extremely successful because the province was united and we were all proud of our achievements. Why can't we do it now to get the very best for our daily living?

New Zealand's latest success story is the Black Caps and the qualities they display: leadership, positivity, determination, unification, teamwork, vision, inspiration, expertise, humility and a real focus on achieving their goals together. No one player is better than the rest. One now needs to reflect on some of the players who were not selected and perhaps we will understand why. There is no "I" in team. It is the qualities displayed by the Black Caps that we need moving us all forward in Hawke's Bay. A united, focused approach with a planned vision and all the detractors left behind.

The local government commissioners who heard all of the evidence, carried out the research and presented their recommendations were independently appointed. They had no fixed agenda and they have integrity, experience, knowledge and business acumen. Do you honestly think they would be unanimous in recommending a way forward for Hawke's Bay if they didn't truly believe in their proposal?

The amalgamation debate is not about the personalities involved or the action groups on either side. It is about the best way forward for Hawke's Bay and for you the ratepayer and your extended family.

Some facts:

The level of expertise available to plan, promote and grow Hawke's Bay would improve because instead of working for 10,000 or 70,000 citizens, it would be for more than 160,000 and competition for positions would intensify just like it does when one progresses from club to provincial to international level sport. Better players become available and the cream always rises to the top.

Modern technology allows us to work as one and that ensures greater efficiencies both locally and globally. We can no longer work in isolation with five councils all doing their own thing. Shared facilities like the landfill, yes, shared services, no; they are just an inefficient compromise and a waste of resource and manpower - 10 people sitting around a table making decisions that two or three could have made.

It would mean consistency right across Hawke's Bay. If you were looking to build, develop some land or run an event you would only need to make one application. Currently you might need to make up to three applications and the regulations are all different.

For the small players in Auckland with local boards it certainly hasn't been all doom and gloom if recent comments from the Franklin Local Board chairman Andrew Baker are anything to go by.

"Within a year of amalgamation, Pukekohe's terrible water supply has received a commitment for a $130 million upgrade; the old council could never have afforded that. Local roading has been greatly improved and the rural fire service has acquired a modern fleet of 4WD vehicles. A bigger rating base made all the difference."

Closer to home we have Sport Hawke's Bay that caters to the province from a main office at the Pettigrew Green Arena and smaller offices in Waipukurau and Wairoa. It is highly successful.

In the business sector, larger firms have the resources, flexibility and leadership to meet the needs of the market. While right across New Zealand there are empty shops as the individual retailer struggles to meet the demands of customers.

Here in Hawke's Bay we need to change if our local economy is going to prosper and that will ensure that all of our communities become vibrant.

I urge you all to consider the bigger picture and vote accordingly.

-Malcolm Dixon is a Hastings District councillor

-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