Local Government Reform

Your Council

A conversation is underway on whether we should have a single Council for the Wellington region.

Under this single city option, there are two possible structures - one with a single tier and one with a second tier of elected local boards. A single tier of representation consists of a mayor and up to 29 councillors. A second tier of represenation consists of a mayor with fewer councillors (up to 21) in the first tier and a second tier of up to eight local boards. The alternative would be the status quo.

For more information and updates please go to www.regionalreform.org.nz

Joint Working Party

A Working Party comprising elected representatives from Kāpiti Coast District Council, Wellington/Porirua City Councils and the Greater Wellington Regional Council has been looking at possible options for local government reform in the region.

This follows significant changes to the Local Government Act late last year and a clear message from Central Government that the status quo was not an acceptable option.

Membership of the Working Party does not commit council members to any actions or imply support for any option.

Kāpiti participation has been guided by a number of principles. They include: retaining meaningful local democracy and access to decision-making; the legacy of debts and assets must be fairly managed; any change must be for the better; early and meaningful provision for involvement of Maori in decision-making; the integration and consolidation of policies; and the retention of village identities in Kāpiti.

The Working Party discussions have centered around two possibilities – a single tier unitary council which may or may not have community boards; and a two tier unitary council with local boards. The latter proposition requires a minimum population of 400,000.

A unitary council has both regional and local council functions.

The elected Kāpiti members of the Working Party are Mayor Jenny Rowan, Deputy Mayor Roger Booth, and councillors Penny Gaylor and Tony Lester.

Joint Working Party Report Local Government - 8 March 2013

This document is in PDF format and available for download or print from the link below:

Realising the potential of the Wellington Region - conclusions of the joint working party on Local Government Reform (74 pages,2 Mb)

New website - Wellington: your choice

A new joint website between Kāpiti Coast District Council, Wellington/Porirua City Councils and the Greater Wellington Regional Council has been set up to inform people about the initiatives and options underway on local government reform in the Wellington region. Background information, fact sheets, a list of public meetings and a submission form are available on the site.

Wellington: your choice website