Future for Local Government

The Times-Age asked Wairarapa mayors for their responses to the first report on the Future of Local Government review, specifically, the ideas around allowing 16-year- olds to vote, providing more money for councillors, mana whenua appointees, and four-year terms.

Mayor Gary Caffell responded as follows:

“While it is impossible to comment on the whole draft report at such short notice I am encouraged by the consistent message through the report that the relationship between central and local government needs to be reset, especially in terms of funding.

“I agree wholeheartedly with the panel’s determination that there must be meaningful change to the way local and central government address issues of sustainable funding, and that councils need to be able to establish new funding mechanisms. I also agree with the premise that central government needs to assess the impacts of proposed regulatory changes on local government and then provide funding for them because only then will the issue of unfunded mandates be addressed.

“Also agree that central government needs to start paying rates and other charges on its property as well as creating an inter-generational climate fund and with the comment that as of now local government has too many unrealistic expectations placed on it which they are required to execute on the ‘smell of a oily rag’.

“As to the other questions, I have no problem with the idea of the voting age being reduced to 16 as it could help make more young people in becoming involved in local body politics and people of that age are often already immersed in such issues as climate change, housing and education. Increased remuneration would certainly make it easier for those in the under-50 age groups to make themselves available for election, four-year council terms would have the advantage of allowing councillors more time to see major projects through and Masterton council already leads the way in mana whenua representation through the establishment of a Māori ward and having two iwi reps with committee voting rights around the council table. Interesting too that the question of possible amalgamation of councils was not addressed other than the panel said they had yet to decide whether to propose a new structure for local government or whether that should be left for some future reform process to determine. With so much on their plates at the moment that course of action will probably be welcomed by most councils.”