Your Say: Sharing strengths and building a future as one

Thursday, 12 September 2024

Combining the Nelson and Tasman councils into one makes sense on a number of levels, writes Nelson mayor Nick Smith.

OPINION: Tough economic times and large rate increases are triggering a discussion around the country on council reform.

We have an opportunity to create the most efficient and effective unit of local government in the country by merging Nelson City and Tasman District councils.

The main reason for change is that we are one region.

Nelson and Tasman economies and communities are so integrated and interdependent that we succeed or fail together. Rural industries such as horticulture, forestry, farming and tourism are the backbone of the economy.

Rural industries such as horticulture, forestry, farming and tourism are the backbone of the economy.

The city provides the essential infrastructure and services.

The case for a single council is obvious to anyone flying over our region, seeing a continuous urban area from Atawhai to Richmond. The border along Champion Rd makes no sense.

This artificial line splits what is effectively NZ’s 9th largest city of 75,000 people and compromises our efforts to secure a fair share of government resources.

Every week, I see things we could do better as a region with a single council in areas such as transport, planning, economic development, water infrastructure, climate change, housing, arts and tourism.

A good example is construction of a short, connecting road between Suffolk Rd and Hill St. It hasn’t happened because the main benefits are for Richmond residents, but the costs fall on Nelson ratepayers.

The two councils do try and overcome these anomalies with joint committees and combined business units, but they are complex and add cost. An example is the 2023 bus service upgrade.

Amalgamation has worked elsewhere, so there’s no reason why it couldn’t here. (File photo)

The only practical way to do it was through a joint committee, but this undermined normal accountabilities and contributed to the $1 million cost overrun.

A single council would save ratepayers millions. There is much duplication and waste. There would be transition costs, but lower rate rises in the future.

The Auckland merger had some bumps, but it now has the lowest rate rises in the country.

Some oppose a merger, believing town and country don’t mix.

A merged council would need to have strong community boards in places such as Motueka and Golden Bay and a ward structure to ensure outlying communities are well represented.

The mix of urban and rural perspectives makes for a better council.

We are one region, writes Nick Smith, stronger together with one voice.

The unity works well for other councils such as Gisborne and Marlborough that, like us, do not have the extra layer of a regional council.

Previous attempts at a merger became too much about personalities. I have made plain to Tasman mayor Tim King, whom I rate highly, that I would not contest the mayoralty of a combined council against him.

The mix of urban and rural perspectives makes for a better council.

My advocacy for a single council is based on a deep and sincere belief that our region would do better as one.

I was privileged to first serve as the MP for Tasman in the 1990s and then Nelson through the 2000s and 2010s.

I love Farewell Spit for its wildness, Golden Bay for its character, Abel Tasman for its beaches, Motueka for its apples and kiwifruit, St Arnaud for its lakes and alps, Golden Downs for its forests, the Moutere for its vineyards, Murchison for its farming, Tapawera for its the hop gardens and Wakefield for its heritage.

Nelson brings to the mix a vibrant airport, a port that thrives as NZ’s fishing capital, art gems such as the Suter, Nelson Centre of Musical Arts and Theatre Royal, institutions such as the Cawthron and NMIT and natural treasures such as the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. Together, we have it all.

Let’s share our strengths and build a future together.