Poll: Should the four West Coast councils merge?
By Lois Williams, Local Democracy Reporting
It has been the elephant in the room for months. A looming presence discussed nervously only behind closed doors.
But the possibility of council amalgamation on the West Coast- otherwise known as local government reform – has surfaced publicly this week at a West Coast Regional Council meeting.
The ‘A’ word itself was delicately avoided.
But the council believes reform will be needed, if the Coast is to mount a successful bid for one of the Government’s new ‘regional deals’.
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced a framework for co-funding agreements to boost regional economies, with a focus on critical infrastructure and housing.
The benefits could include access to new mining royalties, and a share of tourism levies.
But the deals will be by invitation only; provinces will have to show they are committed to a 30-year spatial plan and only five will be chosen for the first round.
Regional council adviser Freya Love told the meeting the process would be highly competitive, with government making the decision on which regions were ready to engage.
“Darryl (chief executive Darryl Lew, pictured) has described it as a beauty contest, where all the regions pitch up and say "we’re they’re ready to engage." I would align it more like the Hunger Games ... which of us is correct remains to be seen but it is not a given.”
Lew said the West Coast was better placed than many regions to show it could lift its GDP with a regional deal but would need to do some ‘corrective’ work to position itself first.
Love said for a successful bid, Coast councils would need to show consensus and pitch a coherent framework to the government.
“They talk about the quality of governance in the region and they’re looking for a unified voice.”
Buller councillor Frank Dooley said ratepayers were concerned about the sustainability of the current local government model on the West Coast.
The region, with a population of about 31,000, has three district councils, in Buller, Grey and Westland, as well as the Regional Council.
“I think we have to be proactive and signal to the government we’re ready to go and we need to progress this very quickly. We have to front-foot it.”
Council chairperson Peter Haddock said he would like the approval of councillors to raise the options for reforms that would result in savings for ratepayers, at a meeting next week of Coast mayors and chairs.
Councillor Peter Ewen said the Regional Council had first raised the idea of more collaboration between councils 12 months ago.
“We lead this; we’ve got the capacity; the District Councils are fiscally challenged at the moment, their CEO’s have changed … they’re looking after their patch and a bit fearful of where this may go.”
In the future there was going to be on regional body, and if councils did not reform themselves, the government would do it for them, Ewen said.
The West Coast was too small in numbers to be split in three, and the Regional Council now had the capability and the staff to lead discussions on reform.
Councillor Brett Cummings said there had to be a unified bid for a regional deal
“We need to drag the other councils along - kicking and squealing - if we want to be part of this. A lot of what holds us is infrastructure, bridges.”
Dooley came up with a series of recommendations.
In summary – that the Regional Council engage with the government on the regional deal process, acknowledge the concerns of ratepayers about costs, and commit to local government reform.
Councils and iwi together should come up with an acceptable model for local government for the region, Dooley recommended.
The motion was passed unanimously.
Haddock said the community wanted to see progress to reduce the burden on ratepayers
“But let’s not predetermine what that should look like … we’ll meet with mayors, chairs and iwi to agree an approach to establishing acceptable local government reform for the West Coast Region.”
*LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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100% Yes
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0% No
Kalle
"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."
"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’
I started playing when I was 18. I played my first cap for the Finnish national team in 2014, we won the Finnish championship with my club. Rugby is not a big thing in Finland.
I moved here to play rugby in 2017. The club that wanted me to come over was Methven Rugby Club. They got me here and they were like, ‘what do you do for work? I’d just finished chef school in Finland. ‘We'll get you a job at Mount Hutt as a chef, you can do that while you play rugby with us.’ I said, ‘Perfect. Yeah, I'm in’.
I've always loved food. My mum was an amazing cook, and still is. When I was studying tourism I worked in some hotels in Finland, and I saw how the chef's worked. I just loved the kitchen vibe and I was like, Yeah, that’d be something I'd love to do.
I've had more of a culinary journey In New Zealand than in Finland. I started at Mount Hutt, after that I worked at The Dubliner in Methven. I worked as a senior pizza chef at Sal’s for maybe six months then worked as chef de partie at Cellar Door. At Eliza's Manor, I worked myself up to a junior sous chef. Then the opportunity came to work my first head chef job at Moon Under Water.
We're privileged to have a busy atmosphere, we can try new things and get a bit creative. There are no TV’s, just come here with your family or with your mates, play board games, to socialise.
I really want to drive the local food and ingredients through the menu. We don't mind spending more for quality ingredients as long as it's supporting New Zealand businesses. We just love to use local. And it's pub food, but I feel like it's elevated.
I play club rugby here for the Christchurch Football Club, the oldest club in New Zealand and I still play regularly for the Finnish national team, whenever they can fly me over to play."
- Kalle
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
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Have your say on Canterbury’s public transport
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Canterbury residents are being encouraged to have their say on public transport in the region.
Environment Canterbury has released its draft public transport plan and is seeking submissions.
The draft plan outlines a vision for public transport in the region and notes key priorities such as improving the environment, growing patronage, accessibility, innovation and technology, and affordability.
‘‘Public transport takes many forms with communities across our region,’’ councillor Peter Scott said.
‘‘With limited funding available, we need to make sure we make the best decisions to deliver a public transport network that is integrated with urban development, innovative and meets the needs of new and existing customers.
‘‘Effective public transport is the lifeline that connects us to work, school, recreation and our friends and family, so it is important we get this right.’’
The Canterbury’s population is growing and by 2050, it is projected 700,000 people will be living in Greater Christchurch.
The draft plan covers public transport for the region, which includes the Metro service (Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri), MyWay by Metro in Timaru, Total Mobility and Community Vehicle Trusts.
It was developed in partnership with local councils and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
Environment Canterbury has been planning to step up its public transport efforts by increasing the frequency of existing services and introducing mass rapid transport in Greater Christchurch.
But these plans have been stalled by a lack of public transport funding in the Government’s 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.
A proposal to allow people to travel with domestic pets is also included in the draft plan.
Having pets on buses has been successfully trial in other parts of New Zealand, councillor Joe Davies said.
‘‘We’re keen to understand what controls are needed for our bus users in Greater Christchurch and Timaru to be comfortable with pets on public transport.
It is proposed to allow adult passengers to bring a single pet on board, as long it is in an approved carrier at off-peak times, weekdays between 9am and 3pm or after 6pm, and during weekends.
Another proposal would loosen those restrictions in future to allow for leashed and muzzled dogs and increasing the limit to two pets per passenger.
‘‘We want to gauge how people feel about these proposals. Now is the time to have your say,’’ Davies said.
Submissions close on Thursday, October 24.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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