Support for merged council growing | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

A hint that parochialism could finally be dying ? at least in South Wairarapa ? has emerged through a voter survey that shows strong support for amalgamating district councils in Wairarapa.

Although the survey organised by South Wairarapa District Council posed no questions regarding amalgamation, 36 people who answered it choose to include comments on the issue.

Of these, 30 were in favour of the council joining forces with its neighbours, many opting for a merger only with Carterton District Council, but some going a stage further, favouring also linking up with Masterton to create one Wairarapa council.

Six respondents opposed any form of merger and two actually wanted to return to the old days when Martinborough, Featherston and Greytown each had their own borough councils.

The survey was done in conjunction with the October local body elections with the council posting out 6368 questionnaires seeking voters' views on nine topics, all relating to the structure of South Wairarapa District Council.

More than 2500 forms were returned and nearly 300 included add-on comments on issues across the board. Of these, most interest centred round likely future amalgamation.

Some comments were simple ? "we should look at Wairarapa amalgamation"? but others went into more detail.

l "Too many damned self-serving councillors ? we should amalgamate and use services efficiently."

l "Ridiculous to have three mayors and councils for this population."

l "Wairarapa needs one local body for 40,000 people. Operating costs would be hugely reduced and parochialism removed."

l "Amalgamation would allow Wairarapa's economy to grow."

l "Please get together with Carterton and make Greytown the main centre, otherwise we will probably end up going to Masterton for everything."

South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples said during the election campaign the issue of amalgamation had often arisen but many were not in favour of it.

She said they saw mergers as a threat to their identity but held the view if amalgamation was inevitable then combining with Carterton was an "OK option" compared with a wider merger.

Mrs Staples said her immediate thoughts on amalgamation were that she was not in favour of a merger but that any future decision would have to be based on proper research and not just anecdotal evidence into possible savings.

Carterton Mayor Gary McPhee said amalgamation had often come up in "general conversation" when representatives of the district councils in Wairarapa got together but he favoured co-operation rather than amalgamation.