Mayors at odds over restrictions on debate

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton (left) and Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule. Photo / File

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton says a law banning councils from putting resources into the amalgamation debate now that a final proposal is under consideration is unfair.

But his Hastings counterpart, Lawrence Yule, says he has no problem with the Local Government Act restrictions ahead of a likely September referendum because it is now more appropriate "the people" dominated the debate, rather than council politicians.

Under the act, councils cannot spend money or resources promoting a view for or against amalgamation from now until a region-wide poll is held on the issue, probably in September.

The Local Government Commission, which has issued guidelines on the provisions, says while councillors and mayors are free to express their opinions as individual citizens, they cannot, for example, use council material or staff time in the preparation of opinion pieces prepared for publication in Hawke's Bay Today.

On the other hand, councils may publish "factual" material on the amalgamation proposal on their websites, provided it is presented in a "balanced way".

Any other individuals or non-council organisations are free to publish, advertise and campaign as they like.

Mr Dalton said the imbalance was unfair and was a result of a law change in 2012. Prior to that, only councils could put forward amalgamation proposals. After the change that restriction was lifted, but not the related spending ban.

"It means individuals or groups can say what they like, spend as much as they like, but a council which may object to a proposal is not allowed to be involved. It is simply a hangover from the old legislation," he said.

Mr Dalton said he would be happy if either of two changes was put in place: a ban on both sides of the debate being allowed to spend money on their campaigns, or both sides being free to act in the same way.

"There shouldn't be one set of rules for one side, and another set for the other side. If you banned them all [from spending], not a problem. If it's open slather, not a problem."

Mr Yule said the situation prevented councils dominating the debate through the use of ratepayer money, but it did not stop others - including people such as Napier MP Stuart Nash - from campaigning.

"I think this is a people's decision and democracy will play out and councils shouldn't have too much to do with what happens now because ultimately it's a democratic process that's up to the people."

Hawke's Bay Today editor Andrew Austin said the paper would comply with the legislation and ask any councillors or mayors to state in writing that no council resources, money, time or expertise were used in the preparation of letters or opinion pieces on amalgamation.

The paper would carry a statement on opinion pages making the paper's position clear.