Two out of three Wairarapa councils in merger discussions

Two out of three Wairarapa councils are progressing merger discussions, with one council sitting it out for now.

The news comes after a working group of Masterton District Council (MDC), Carterton District Council (CDC), and South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) recently met to look at options for closer cooperation.

Now, MDC mayor Gary Caffell and CDC mayor Ron Mark have confirmed their councils are in ongoing merger talks, but SWDC are not presently committing to a plan to merge.

Caffell and Mark said mana whenua were expected to be part of the conversations.

Carterton mayor Ron Mark said CDC was firmly in favour of progressing a region-wide merger process, which would include public consultation.

"Carterton believes that the most viable and sustainable future for all Wairarapa councils, post affordable water and other anticipated reforms, is to merge," Mark said.

"Initiating a merger proposal will see the Wairarapa driving, leading and directing our future rather than have the decision made on our behalf by central government.

CDC was proposing continuing discussions about a merger along with Masterton District Council and mana whenua representatives, in partnership with the Local Government Commission, Mark said.

"We anticipate this will help determine the form and functions any merger entity will need to deliver. Following this we anticipate going out for public consultation on the proposal or proposals."

Masterton mayor Gary Caffell said MDC wanted to take the opportunity to help shape the region's future.

"Masterton District Council is keen to continue the conversation over the advantages and disadvantages of merging with the other two Wairarapa councils.

"MDC believes it is important that we do everything we can to control our own destiny as a region, rather than be dictated by others who may push for a very different type of reorganisation.

"If those discussions, which would also involve iwi, lead to a merger proposal of any kind, it would then be the subject of public consultation through the Local Government Commission process," he said.

SWDC deputy-mayor Melissa Sadler-Futter said the council remained open to considering options and wanted to see a comprehensive review of the risks and benefits posed.

The first joint-councils Working Group meeting had one action point, which was to go back to councils to get a position on the proposed "commit to plan to merge", she said.

"SWDC discussed this matter [informally] and took the position of not committing to plan to merge," Sadler-Futter said.

"There was, however, an openness to continued conversation and investigation of the options available to us. It was agreed we wanted to see a comprehensive review that looked at benefits, risks, alternatives, and the appetite for merger among our community, completed by the Working Group.

"Both Councillor [Martin] Bosley and I felt this was in line with the outlined purpose of the working group which was to review the three themes and six questions developed by the previous working group, complete an intensive review seeking to answer all the questions and present a comprehensive report back to the three councils by year end."

Sadler-Futter said SWDC did not want to take a position without the above information.

"We feel it is important to understand and ensure the benefits outweigh the negatives for any preferred option.

"With regard to the next steps, SWDC will watch with interest the progress of our neighbouring councils, and we will also seek to answer our above questions."

Mark hoped the process would be complete before the next local elections.

"We do not have a planned completion date at this early stage of the conversation, but anticipate the work will take some time. Ultimately, we aim to bring these conversations to a decision prior to, or at, the next local body election in October 2025."

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