Two thirds back single council

A number of funding questions have been raised.Lyn Patterson, Wairarapa Governance Review Working Party chairwoman Feedback from the Wairarapa community about the future governance of the region overwhelmingly supports the move to a unitary authority.

The Wairarapa Governance Review Working Party closed the call for feedback from the public earlier this month. The deadline was given as the Wellington-based Local Government Reform Working Party had advised their submission to the Local Government Commission would be ready in April and the Wairarapa group will have only 20 days to submit an alternative.

The three Wairarapa councils had already agreed on a preferred option of a Wairarapa unitary authority.

More than two-thirds of 1100 feedback forms received supported a separate independent unitary authority for the region. The remainder oppose the unitary option, although some prefer the status quo and other options rather than the proposed super city alternative.

Working party chairwoman Lyn Patterson said some clear themes have emerged.

"Of those in favour of a Wairarapa Unitary Authority, the majority do not want to be governed by Wellington and they are obviously concerned that a metropolitan council will not be best positioned to determine the future of a rural community such as ours," she said.

She said there is some concern about Wairarapa becoming isolated from Wellington.

"A number of funding questions have been raised, with concerns expressed about the effect that changing governance structures could have on rates and levels of service. Further research we have commissioned should help to answer these.

"Clearly there are some who remain undecided on the best way forward for our region and the more information we can put in front of them, the easier that decision-making process will be."

The working party reported their initial findings to the councils yesterday and are working on more detailed analysis.