Local authorities told to back regional govt

Press, 14 June 1984, Page 2

Local authorities told to back regional govt

Regional and united councils are here to stay, delegates at the Counties’ Association conference in Christchurch were told yesterday.

Two Cabinet Ministers who addressed the conference yesterday morning said that the Government was firmly behind regional and united councils. They called on local authority members to support them.

“United councils will only work and benefit their respective regions if the people involved want them to succeed,” said the Minister of Works and Development, Mr Friedlander. Earlier, the Minister of Local Government, Mr Highet, said that both the Government and the Labour Party supported regional government. Local authorities had a choice between their different “recipes” for regionalism, but regional government was here to stay.

He said that regional and united councils were needed because the present systemof territorial local government was fragmented. The activities of special purpose local authorities also needed

to be co-ordinated at a regional level. Mr Highet said he was aware that some of the association’s members did not support united councils. However, he said a comment by a former Heathcote County chairman, Mr John McKenzie, on Monday that the contribution of regional councils could almost be written on the back of a postage stamp was “absurd.”

United councils were working well in some regions. Their activities and achievements were ample illustration of what could be done when territorial authorities got behind their united councils. He said he believed that some united councils did not work so well because of parochialism, when the territorial authorities would not support them. The Government was prepared to listen to constructive proposals for change but it wanted an effective system of regional government. It was prepared to persevere with the present system to see if it could provide for regional needs.

The job of the united

council was to promote and act as an advocate for its region. It had to co-ordinate activities within the region and provide a link between the regional and central government. United councils were an important point of contact for Ministers and Government departments. “Without this regional consultative process, there is little chance that regional aspirations can be effectively reflected at national level,” Mr Highet said.

Mr Friedlander echoed Mr Highet’s comments when he commented on a remit proposing that the Government change the law to make regional and united councils voluntary rather than mandatory.

“I cannot underscore too heavily the value, both actual and potential, of the role these bodies play. As far as regional planning is concerned, it has been demonstrated time and again

over the last few years that the association between central government and regional bodies has been of great mutual advantage. It is my view we must build on this, not undermine it,” he said.

Some regional and united councils had achieved real results, he said. The Southland United Council had formed policies on marine farming, energy, health, and natural hazards. The Taranaki United Council had served as a meeting place where local authorities, the Government, and developers could discuss resource development in the region. The Wairarapa United Council had been involved in natural gas reticulation for the region.

Mr Friedlander said members of local authorities should support united councils and help to promote practical regional planning and growth opportunities.