Waikato Regional Council building
Waipā mayor Mike Pettit says he was blindsided by the government announcement that a mayoral board would take on the role of regional councillors.
New Waikato Regional Council members Gary McGuire, Liz Stolwyk, Garry Reymer, and Keith Holmes. Photo Chris Gardner
“I expected something along the lines that the regional councils were going,” Pettit said. “What blindsided me was the responsibility of the mayors.”
Pettit would join nine other Waikato mayors on a combined territorial board which would assume the role of regional councillors while developing a regional reorganisation plan.
“That came as a surprise,” Pettit said.
Mike Pettit
Mayors could be allocated votes based on the population of the city or district they represented.
Pettit, yet to hear directly from the government regarding the proposal announced last week by Local Government minister Simon Watts and Resource Management Act Reform minister Chris Bishop, said its implications needed unpacking.
He had no issue with what the government was trying to achieve, and he wanted what was best for the region.
“I am conscious that I stood as mayor of being out and about in the community. I am wondering how that is going to affect that.”
Pettit said the region’s mayors were already working together through a mayoral forum which had instructed their chief executives to collaborate more efficiently.
Garry Reymer
Waikato Regional Council Waipā-King Country councillor Garry Reymer, a former Waikato Federated Farmers finance spokesman, said he was not opposed to local government reform as he campaigned on amalgamating regional and district councils.
“What will be important is what, when how,” he said.
“We know why.”
Reymer said he was not sure leaving it up to a mayoral forum was the right answer.
“I would imagine that at the very least they will include the chair of the Waikato Regional Council Warren Maher and maybe our chief executive Chris McLay. This I think is vital because the Waikato Regional Council has some key roles that the district councils will have low knowledge levels of.”
Warren Maher
He favoured keeping urban centres such as Cambridge and Hamilton separate from other catchments.
“That would mean Hamilton and Cambridge would become one entity leaving the rural areas with some strong rural towns like Te Awamutu Ōtorohanga and Te Kūiti in our region to run their own programme.
“Same towards the east with the likes of Matamata and Morrinsville central but the catchment will be more spread out including other towns.”
Reymer said he looked forward to seeing what proposals the Waikato Territorial Board came up with.
Liz Stolwyk
Reymer’s fellow ward councillor Liz Stolwyk said change was needed in local government.
“I say bring it on, but it must be done well. Communities should be at the centre of designing any new model, armed with good information and a clear understanding of what will best serve Waipā-King Country and Waikato. I genuinely welcome the opportunity to improve outcomes for our communities,” Stolwyk said.
“Over the past few months I have strongly advocated for meaningful change and reform in local government, so I am pleased to see momentum and leadership in this space. At the same time, we must ensure the delivery of essential services continues smoothly throughout any transition.”
Stolwyk said regional councillors played a crucial role in environmental management, flood protection, biosecurity, public transport and long-term regional planning.
“These are not optional responsibilities – they are core to the wellbeing and resilience of our communities.”
Waikato Chamber of Commerce head Don Good. Photo: Viv Posselt
Long time local government amalgamation campaigner Waikato Chamber of Commerce chief executive Don Good said it was too early to say whether the government’s proposal would deliver on his hopes.
“It’s too early to be definitive,” he said. “There’s a lot of devil in the detail.”
“I look forward to seeing an amicable conversation being had by all parties.”
Waikato Regional Council building. Photo: BCD Group
