Guarded backing for economic zone

Wairarapa's regional development contribution is around $250,000 so Masterton District Council would be seeking a commitment to have $125,000 returned for spending in Wairarapa.

After a protracted debate Masterton District Council this week decided to support "in-principle" the creation of a single economic development agency for the entire Wellington region.

But the Policy and Finance Committee qualified its support by adding it would only remain in place if consideration was given by the new body - to be called Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA) - to returning 50 per cent of the economic development rate take collected from Wairarapa back to Wairarapa.

Masterton's support and the rider that half the rate take should be returned to Wairarapa mirrors the resolution passed by South Wairarapa District Council and to some extent the decision reached by Carterton District Council although the latter is pressing for greater Wairarapa representation on WREDA's strategy committee.

Masterton's "in principle" support came after about an hour of roundtable discussion on Wednesday which involved several attempts at re-working the final wording of the committee's resolution and at one time threatened to result in a split council decision.

Four councillors, Brent Goodwin, Jonathan Hooker, Mark Harris and Doug Bracewell, were opposed to giving support and first term councillor Simon O'Donoghue at first declared he couldn't make his mind up and "would sit on the fence" but at the end of the long debate voted in favour, thereby avoiding a 5-5 split vote.

Those who voted in favour were Simon O'Donoghue, Gary Caffell, Pip Hannon, Chris Peterson, David Holmes and Graham McClymont.

Mayor Lyn Patterson was also in favour.

Wairarapa's regional development contribution is around $250,000 so the council would be seeking a commitment to have $125,000 returned for spending in Wairarapa.

Councillors were in agreement when it came to assessing the input from Wairarapa in terms of WREDA's expected overall budget which could amount to $44 million a year, acknowledging Wairarapa is a "bit player" whose decision was unlikely to alter the thinking of those on the other side of the Rimutaka Hill.

Councillor Chris Peterson at one stage referred to Wairarapa as being "the mouse that roared" on this issue.

Wairarapa would have a single representative on the committee which would oversee WREDA from a political viewpoint, as would Upper Hutt City, Lower Hutt City, Porirua City, Kapiti District Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council. Wellington City Council would have four representatives.

Wellington advocates of a single economic agency claim the benefits will include stronger economic leadership and the advantage of having one voice to lobby central government, business investors and research providers.