Horizons must play by the rules

IT IS both surprising and baffling to find that Horizons Regional Council is deadlocked over adding that unrelenting "H" to its official name - Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council.

The strategy and policy committee voted 6-6 when considering the controversial additional letter, and chairman Bruce Gordon refused to use his casting vote to decide the matter. It may be that Mr Gordon does not agree with using his casting votes on such matters of personal preference; it may be that he thought it better to wait for Horizons' full council meeting on Tuesday when the issue will come back to the table; it may be that he thought sitting on the fence was the safest option.

But surely the council's course is clear. Land Information Minister Louise Upston last month decreed that the district shall be Whanganui from December 1, and it is now so gazetted.

Horizons derives its official name from the districts it serves - Manawatu and, now, Whanganui. That doesn't seem to leave it much choice.

Whanganui's representatives on the regional body, David Cotton and Rod Pearce, both voted against the "H". While that was probably personal preference, they cited public opposition to any change - though there was no evidence presented to suggest they had correctly gauged the majority opinion.

Mr Cotton said people should have the option whether or not to include the "H". Of course, they still have that option no matter what Horizons decides. It is the regional council that faces limited options.

Local government often, quite rightly, rails against and resists the impositions of their more powerful colleagues in Parliament. But the law is the law - and Ms Upston's ruling falls in that ballpark.

"Whanganui" is now the spelling recognised by the New Zealand Government and all agencies. Whatever their personal feelings, Horizons councillors are obliged to fall into line.