Kapiti council takes lead

Kapiti has taken the lead in the local government reform around the Wellington region but the Hutt Valley appears to hold the whip-hand.

When Kapiti Coast District Council considered the next steps in possible council amalgamations at its meeting on November 29 it was the first council to do so.

The meeting was held the day after amendments to the Local Government Act had passed their third reading in Parliament, leaving only royal assent needed before they passed into law.

Among the new conditions was government approval for two-tier council structures, as proposed by Greater Wellington and Porirua City Council’s local governance panel.

Two-tier structures were restricted to councils representing populations of 400,000 or more.

Wellington region has a population of more than 480,000 but the 40,000 residents of Wairarapa want to defect to form their own unitary council and the two Hutt cities, with a population of 150,000 have proposed a similar structure.

That would leave 200,000 Wellingtonians, 50,000 Porirua residents and 50,000 Kapiti residents – not enough to form a two-tier city without at least Lower Hutt. Kapiti will enter negotiations with Wellington Regional Council and Porirua City Council on amalgamations.

The council also agreed to consult residents on proposals in January or early February.