The Local Government Commission has approved the initial stages to amalgamate nine councils into one Wellington Super City Council, but MPs who are directly affected by the move have grave concerns.
Wellington will be the centre in the latest proposal to unite nine councils under the draft proposal to amalgamate nine councils in the wider Wellington region.
Now the minister responsible for local government wants to hear public opinions on the matter.
“It's independent from the Commission and they have put it out via their plan, I think it's time for our Wellingtonians to have a really good look at it,” says Minister Paula Bennett.
Under the proposal, the Wellington City Council and the Greater Wellington Regional Council would fuse with the Masterton District Council, Carterton District Council, South Wairarapa District Council, Upper Hutt City Counci, Hutt City Council, Porirua City Council and the Kāpiti Coast District Council.
Minister Annette King says, “I can see some councils like the Wairarapa, they want to work together they proposed working together. I can see Wellington and Porirua working well together, but they've gone for the big kahuna and I think it's doomed to fail.”
While Labour's Wellingtonian MPs see some concerns over the Super City plan, there are still some positives to the draft.
According to Mana MP Kris Faafoi, “The amount of rates that people in my electorate pay is an issue so they may see it as a plus to join up with the rest of the region.”
Public submissions close next year in March.