Nickie Muir: Have your say on unification

Newly elected Whangarei Mayor Sheryl Mai

Submission. Submit. The words seem an act of passive acceptance; a bowing down to authority without question. In a democracy, however, submissions are people power made manifest. Opinion overt. It's one of the most powerful tools citizens can use to get heard on the big decisions. There's still time to have your say on whether you think the North should be ruled by a solitary body or to keep the status quo of three district councils and the one regional council, which is ostensibly responsible for the environmental well-being of the entire region.

There's a lot to weigh up. The arguments for a solitary governing body are compelling from the perspective of "if it's not broken don't fix it". The residents of Kaipara and many from Whangarei district and the Far North have been saying the system is broken for awhile. Burgeoning debt due to projects that seem to have been pushed by vested interests and not the community - and long-serving councillors who have long ceased to listen - have contributed to a sense that all is not well in local government.

The blurred and still bleeding line between governance and administration still seems an issue in some councils. Is it the structure that's the problem? It's far from certain that a single body will miraculously produce the driven-yet-inclusive leadership that this region so badly needs. Under a larger "Super City" model, it is far more likely that the independently wealthy - those for example, who live on the salary-for-life of retired or underperforming MPs, or large-scale developers - will be the ones contesting mayoralty races.

Judging by the results of the past two elections in the Whangarei electorate, it appears that style of leadership has faded from fashion and new councillors are stepping slowly towards a culture change.

What's certain is that a mayoral campaign, run over such a vast and varied area, would cost more money than many of the small players have to spend.

There is also a big risk in losing the independence of the regional council as an environmental watchdog. Having the NRC as an independent body - regardless of some of the failings highlighted in a recent documentary - still means a hand-brake in the system that used properly can stop over-enthusiastic district councils going ahead with plans that could have negative environmental effects on the whole region. Why would you need a hand-brake? Ask the developers who often tell local government planning and resource consent staff to move out of the way for the movers and shakers, when there is a boom on.

Some of the ill-considered, hapless coastal development that is likely to cost citizens and ratepayers far into the future would be one answer to that.

Community boards are easily influenced and have no teeth - they are unlikely to hold the line when a developer's push is met with a community shove. My money is on an improved status quo, but what would be great to see is Northland making a record number of submissions - either way - instead of just submitting to our political fate.

You can email your submission before this Friday to info@lgc.govt.nz.