Councillors Rally Behind Horizons Regional Council Amid Reform Threats

Palmerston North city councillors, along with Manawatū mayor Michael Ford, have expressed strong support for their colleagues on the Horizons Regional Council. This backing comes in response to proposed government reforms that may remove elected regional councillors from office before their term ends. The reforms, outlined in the Government’s Simplifying Local Government proposals, could see councillors ousted before their three-year term concludes, which would typically last until 2028.

During a meeting of the Horizons integrated catchment committee on Wednesday, Ford labeled the government’s plans as undemocratic and called for a pause on the proposals. “We consider you have not been treated well to date,” he stated, directly addressing concerns surrounding the Feilding flood resilience plan.

In an effort to protect their positions, the city council has directed staff to revise their draft submission regarding the proposals. The goal is to advocate for regional councillors to retain their roles until the next local body elections. Councillor Brent Barrett emphasized the implications of removing elected officials, arguing that it undermines community representation and democratic values. He highlighted that such actions would historically be viewed as “a coup,” noting that this was not an appropriate way to begin a new era of regional governance.

Barrett also expressed concern that the proposed reforms reflect a lack of understanding from parliamentarians regarding the extensive responsibilities of regional councillors. His involvement with Horizons includes serving on the passenger transport committee, illustrating the multifaceted nature of regional council duties. He warned that eliminating a layer of governance prematurely could lead to significant chaos.

Councillor Vaughan Dennison raised additional issues regarding the potential workload that may fall on the region’s mayors if they were required to assume the responsibilities of regional councillors. He argued that expecting mayors to form combined territories boards while maintaining focus on their own districts and cities is a considerable burden. Dennison also pointed out that abolishing regional councillors would effectively dismantle the region’s Māori constituencies.

The draft submission from the city council also critiqued whether the proposed reforms would indeed result in a simpler system. The council opposed the idea of including Crown-appointed commissioners or observers on combined territories boards. In the submission, council staff suggested that the roles and functions of regional councils should be clearly defined before combined territories boards are tasked with creating regional reorganization plans. This approach would ensure that the boards are not developing plans without a clear understanding of their responsibilities.

While there is a general agreement on the need for change, the council stressed that genuine simplification requires clearer guidance on the desired outcomes of such reforms. Councillors Mark Arnott and Hayden Fitzgerald voted against the proposed amendments to the submission, highlighting potential divisions among the council members regarding the best path forward.

As the debate continues, the implications of the government’s reform proposals remain a pressing concern for local leaders and constituents alike.