Tararua opposes bill

A new government amendment bill is being strongly opposed by the Tararua District Council.

At a meeting held on Friday, councillors accepted a submission opposing the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill.

Tararua District Councillor Bill Keltie said the amendment bill was a ‘‘takeover by stealth’’.

The Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 2) proposes to extend an independent authority’s powers to initiate investigations into local government re-structuring without community consultation.

Strategy and policy adviser Malcolm Thomas said while there were some useful things in the bill, if it was passed, power would go to the commission to initiate regional council controlled organisations (CCO’S) involving infrastructure.

That would result in there being no council or local community involvement in decision-making processes, he said.

‘‘The Local Government Commission could consult if they wanted to but there’s no requirement on them to do so. They can just impose it on the communities.’’

Chief executive Blair King said the council opposed the bill on the basis that it would take away democracy and power from local, rural councils.

‘‘The key thrust that we are putting through is to oppose it.

‘‘In staff view it’s an attempt to basically cut through the local democracy because the local government commission couldn’t get the amalgamations they wanted.’’

Mayor Roly Ellis said if the bill was passed, local governments would likely be amalgamated together around the country.

‘‘All of the small rural councils are actually doing really quite well. Suddenly they’d disappear into a big pot and would be driven by Wellington or Hastings. It would be as easy as that.’’

Cr David Roberts said the council should be looking at working alongside other councils but did not need to be dictated to by the commission.

The Local Government and Environment Select Committee is calling for submissions on the LGA 2002 Amendment Bill, which are required by July 28.