Local voice could be lost in unitary authority – mayors

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

North Canterbury’s three mayors fear local democracy could be lost amid talk of a ‘‘super city’’.

The mayors were responding to the Christchurch City Council’s submission on the draft future for local government report, where it advocated for the city to become a unitary authority.

A unitary authority would incorporate the power and responsibility of a regional council.

There are just six unitary authorities in New Zealand – Auckland, Gisborne, Nelson, Marlborough, Tasman and the Chatham Islands.

Given the close relationship between the Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri councils, the prospect of a Greater Christchurch unitary authority has been mooted.

Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said he was surprised to hear of the city council’s submission, but there was no appetite for amalgamation.

‘‘One of the biggest challenges if you have a unitary authority is where would the boundaries be and who would look after the rivers.

‘‘Canterbury stretches from Waitaki to Kaikōura and rivers are often the boundaries between districts, so who would look after the rivers which sit on the boundaries between districts.

‘‘We don’t agree with everything Environment Canterbury does, but we have a good relationship.’’

Hurunui mayor Marie Black said a unitary authority would ‘‘rob our communities of the voices that we have been advocating for across all the reform process’’.

‘‘A super city is an interesting concept as where would you draw the boundaries and how does this capture the place of belonging, which is very much a feature of how we relate to our community and our people.

‘‘I would not see that a unitary authority would bring value to a district like the Hurunui.’’

Kaikōura mayor Craig Mackle said he was not surprised to hear of the Christchurch submission, but he feared a unitary authority could leave Hurunui and Kaikōura out on their own.

‘‘I was guessing they were going to have crack at it.

‘‘I don’t see we would be any better off. All I can see is the big players demanding what they want.’’

If there was going to be any amalgamation, Mackle said he could live with a partnership between Kaikōura, Hurunui and Waimakariri.

But his preference was for the status quo.

‘‘We do work in with Hurunui and we have good relationships across North Canterbury.’’

In its submission, Environment Canterbury suggested the differences between regional councils and city and district councils ‘‘could be better articulated and considered’’.