The message from the Government following the Hawkes Bay vote against amalgamation has been that the views of the public don’t matter.
Minister Paula Bennett has given two messages; that the poll was irrelevant because amalgamation was never intended (so why did you force people into a vote then?), and that regardless of the vote, she’s pushing on with what she really wants (which is, er, an amalgamation of services).
The new head of the Local Government Commission, Wira “Lord Mayor” Gardiner, says no matter what the vote, he would have amalgamated the region.
Which shows the way the elite think: the vote was a darned nuisance to their glorious ambition. since they know better than us ordinary folk, they’ll push on with their plans anyway.
Bennett has signaled that she’s prepared to introduce new laws to get some form of amalgamation.
Hands off the Hutt is now even more determined to ensure these people don’t just sneak in amalgamation by the back door.
