Greater Wellington Regional Council has agreed to support a single unitary authority for the Wellington region, saying key services including public transport, flood protection and environmental management should continue to be delivered at a regional scale.
GWRC will advocate for the model developed by the Wellington Mayoral Forum, which would create one unitary authority supported by community councils to retain local decision-making.
GWRC was excluded from submitting proposals through the Government’s Head Start pathway for simplifying local government.
At its meeting on Tuesday, August 4, the council agreed that councils, elected members, iwi authorities, communities and the Government should be involved in designing the next phase of reform.
It also supported holding a regional referendum before any final proposal proceeds.
GWRC chair Daran Ponter said communities should have the final say on changes to local government.
“Local government belongs to communities. If reform of this scale is going to proceed, it must be co-designed with the people who get the final say through a referendum,” Ponter said.
“A single unitary authority in the Wellington region with strong community councils is the best way to simplify governance without breaking up the regional systems people rely on.”
GWRC said its responsibilities for public transport, flood management, environmental management, harbours and regional spatial planning were most effectively managed across the region.
The council also agreed that creating several unitary authorities could introduce new complexity.
Alternative proposals raised by territorial councils include separate unitary authorities for Kāpiti and Wairarapa, along with possible changes to local government arrangements in the Hutt Valley.
GWRC deputy chair Ros Connelly said reform should simplify regional governance while keeping decisions close to local communities.
“The region can have a stronger, simpler structure and still keep decision-making close to communities,” Connelly said.
“The next design phase must be open, properly resourced and honest about costs, benefits and trade-offs.”
GWRC also agreed to advocate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitments, Treaty settlement instruments and existing mana whenua relationships to be protected under any new governance structure.
It wants strategic public assets, including regional parks, GWRC’s CentrePort shareholding and Metlink assets, protected from sale during the reform process.
The council said a detailed economic assessment was needed to identify the costs and benefits of changing regional and local government functions.
GWRC will write to government ministers and political party leaders seeking support for a collaboratively designed single unitary authority that maintains regional services and retains local representation.
Connelly said GWRC would continue providing its existing services while the future of reform was considered.
“Until the next steps become clear, Greater Wellington will continue to keep buses and trains running, safeguard communities with flood schemes, and protect the environment in partnership with mana whenua.”
