The amount of claptrap spoken in favour of amalgamation has not ceased with the end of the Wellington supercity proposal. At the heart of the problem are the nation’s decision-makers and influencers. People you may expect to use evidence, reason and logic in the service of the nation, instead use rhetoric, grand-eloquence and humbug. To the list of utter drivel spouted we now add Craig Foss, Minister of something and a Hawkes Bay MP.
In a column in favour of amalgamating that region he imagines what should happen the day after amalgamation.
The new mayor should commit to be positive and aspirational for all of Hawke’s Bay. The mayor should pledge to celebrate, nurture and enhance the cultural identity and strengths of our various cities and towns. Currently, our cities and mayors compete with each other.
Goodness. A pledge to ‘celebrate’ the region – what a cool idea. Why didn’t the previous and current Mayors think of that? Apparently the current cities and mayor “compete”. First off, primarily they don’t: they get on with running their councils and serving the needs of their residents. Secondly, it’s a strange thing for a National MP to criticise competition. Isn’t competition the lifeblood of variation, difference, innovation. Wouldn’t a real National Party be wary of the idea of a behemoth faceless regional organisation with one flat set of ideas and dictates?
The new mayor should set 10-year goals for our region.They must make those goals public, transparent, realistic and invite the public to hold the mayor and councillors accountable for them.
Yes, since every Council already has to make long term, 10 year plans, a new council would probably do the same thing. So hardly a new idea.
The mayor should explain how they intend to achieve the goals and explain the steps required to achieve them. Now, there are five various long-term plans.
Since Fossy is so keen on detail, he should explain the mechanism by which an amalgamated city will achieve the goals.
The new mayor should immediately arrange a meeting with Prime Minister John Key to say Hawke’s Bay is now united and the new council is focused on job growth, economic growth, export growth, tourism growth and is environmentally responsible.
And the Prime Minister will say “that’s nice dear” and move on.
The mayor should explain to Mr Key the Bay’s regional priorities and plan. Currently, the Prime Minister hears five different plans and five sets of priorities from five different mayors/chairs.
Does Fossy seriously mean to suggest that the Prime Minister actually reads or listens to presentations on every city plan. That’s BS. And he shouldn’t – the plans are for the residents, not for the PM. This isn’t North bloody Korea.
The mayor should commit to a constant and innovative pursuit of the best value and outcomes for ratepayers’ investment.
Oh yes, and where are the mechanisms that insist on this?
As well, the mayor should fast-track a regional infrastructure stock-take and begin a process of commitment to 10 years of various water storage/irrigation projects, 10 years of roading investments, 10 years of fibre, 10 years of tourism developments – and 10 years of certainty.
count everthing. Yup, good. As for the plans, why will a new council which at least doubles the size of population be any more likely to come up with answers agreed to by everyone?
Businesses looking to invest here will be so much more receptive and interested when they see Hawke’s Bay as providing one region-wide plan for the next 10 years. Right now, there are five levels of uncertainty.
Fossy doesn’t name one business which hasn’t come to the region because of variety in rules.
The mayor should immediately begin a council rules and regulatory bonfire and publish a schedule indicating when the various parts of the various bylaws throughout the Bay will be upgraded into one set of rules, bylaws and regulations for all.
Hah! Whether you start from scratch or merge current ones, the fuss over each piece will be an enormous task.
The starting point for the new rules and bylaws should be trying to “create the best region in New Zealand for job growth balanced with looking after our environment”.
Lovely sentiment, shame that the answer to that challenge differs who-ever you talk to. That’s the messy business of democracy.
It is time for a united Hawke’s Bay to be heard, acknowledged, respected, envied by the rest of New Zealand. It’s your chance to make it happen. Your positive amalgamation choice will make it happen.
And here we were thinking that local governance was to do what the locals wanted. No, apparently it’s all about being “acknowledged” by others. Wow – that’s an expensive and risky effort just to be liked by someone who doesn’t live there.
A united, amalgamated Hawke’s Bay will provide an awesome opportunity to create the best region in New Zealand to operate a business, grow jobs, grow wages and salaries, grow opportunities for our children.
Nice slogan, which is why everyone uses it. Even communists and fascists would use it. How, Mr Foss. The question is how?
And so we return to the start. Mr Foss says the Mayor will need to be precise and detailed in their commitment and accountability to the region. Yet Mr Foss does absolutely none of this when arguing for amalgamation. Arguments, Mr Foss, are when you use logic, evidence, and reason. Slogans and sentiments are poor substitutes. They illustrate woolly thinking. If that’s the best the pro-amalgamation case can do, then the answer is simple: vote No.
