Region does need change but not super-city

And now it seems the regional councillors were alarmed at the concept, if the letter of no confidence in Ms Wilde is any indication.

THERE was a time when the Greater Wellington Regional Council was all about organised summer park activities, teaching kids about marine life and showing schools how to test for water purity and clarity in streams.

It is, of course, still about all these things, and still all about a vast brief to co-ordinate our region's ecological assets.

Unfortunately, it became synonymous with the super-city proposal, with chairwoman Fran Wilde possibly the biggest supporter of a one-council structure for Wellington. It was a heck of a ride and it seemed people got scared.

People in communities biased heavily to rural got scared at the idea of small populations paying their share towards the major resource management the regional council brought to the table.

And now it seems the regional councillors were alarmed at the concept, if the letter of no confidence in Ms Wilde is any indication.

As long as the super-city process was rolling, it was a case of being caught up in the momentum. With the amalgamation process now ignominiously crushed in the mud, the ride has to stop.

It's like coming to the end of a fairground ride, and, blinking hard, it takes you a moment to realise where you are and maybe it wasn't a great idea.

I can't blame Ms Wilde for having the strength of her convictions; in fact, I applaud anyone who stands on a principle. But tolerance for that stand depended on success, not just commitment. It didn't deliver.

As a region, we are overdue for change - and that was indicated in surveys and submissions.

It is obvious the three Wairarapa councils could be one, as could the two Hutt cities. Kapiti is already a useful coverage for three significant towns, much bigger than ours. Porirua, well, I guess could become part of Wellington. The mayor's been a supporter of amalgamation, so I suppose they'll tag on to someone.

But it would seem the regional council, with its role over infrastructure and environment in the region, is still needed and wanted - if only because it's a hefty tab for rural communities, with most of the land - to collect.