Come clean on favoured option, mayors urged

Ratepayers have called on the three Wairarapa mayors to be honest and transparent with their investigation into future options for governance in the region.

More than 100 people turned out at a public information evening on Wednesday night, organised by Wairarapa Toastmasters.

Speakers included Wairarapa mayors Garry Daniell, Ron Mark and Adrienne Staples, and Greater Wellington Regional Council deputy chairman Peter Glensor.

The panel were presented with four questions from the organisers before questions were opened to the floor.

Former Masterton District councillors Roddy McKenzie and Brent Goodwin said they were not impressed with the meeting.

Mr McKenzie said it was clear the three mayors had made up their minds; "all their speeches were leaning toward pulling away from Wellington".

"They don't want to be part of the regional council. That's not their decision - they're there to give us the information."

Mr McKenzie had also spoken to other ratepayers after the meeting who agreed with him.

Mr Goodwin said it was clear the mayors favoured a unitary authority and were not keen to listen to other ideas.

He said a key talking point was Mrs Staples' Times-Age column this week, in which she said $11.2 million more was spent in Wairarapa than was collected in regional rates, and questioned what that money had been spent on.

Mr Goodwin said she tried to "back-peddle furiously" on her comments when audience members said they had also seen the figures and it was clear how the money was spent. "The three mayors need to be a lot more honest with their voters if they want to have any influence in this coming debate," he said.

South Wairarapa mayor Mrs Staples said she was not questioning the figures, but why there had been such an increase in regional funding to Wairarapa in the last few years, and where it was being spent.

She said the mayors had not decided on which option would be best for the region.

"We don't have enough information yet to make a decision on which option is preferred."

Carterton mayor Mr Mark agreed the mayors had not already made up their minds, but were still looking at the two options.