Amalgamation: response to Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett

Council boundaries pre-1989 amalgamations.

Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett has responded to my letter to the Hutt News responding to claims that the proposed amalgamation of Wellington's councils is being driven by the government. With respect to Nick, he misses the point. My letter simply pointed out the government's position; that is that the issue is for the people of Wellington to decide democratically in a referendum.

At no point did I claim council amalgamation is a Labour Party plot. I simply pointed out that Nick's own council, Porirua City Council, and Greater Wellington Regional Council, are the applicants for the amalgamation and are driving for the change, and are both headed by Labour Party members. That counters the claim that the super city is a "National Party design."

Nick is right on one point though - there are members of both parties who are in favour of amalgamation and those who, like myself, are opposed to it. That's a good thing and a sign of a healthy democracy. Let's have the debate on amalgamation but remember it's neither the Labour or National parties who decide, but the people of Wellington democratically.