Governance Matters with Peter McKinlay

Debate on reshaping local government in the Western Bay and the wider region is hotting up – but who is leading it?

Paul Adams has put forward a vision for a dynamic Tauranga attracting people to a vibrant city renowned for its arts, culture, recreation and educational opportunities along with a growing high-skill work environment.

He argues amalgamating Tauranga and Western Bay is essential to create a more effective and efficient environment for business.

Exciting, but most voters value local place, community and low cost above creating a pro-business environment.

Mayor Stuart Crosby warns the amalgamation process is inherently political – perhaps code for saying we don't have the political leadership needed.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is preparing its own proposal so it can be ready for a pre-emptive strike.

Rotorua wants a Royal Commission. The Eastern Bay is uncertain, but worried about its future.

Are we going down the path other regions have been following – lots of different proposals on the table, and no unified leadership?

Who is going to step up and bring Western Bay's – and the wider region's – communities together to find a way forward on which we can all agree?

There is a serious risk with what's happening at the moment.

Disagreement around the future shape of local government usually leads to no change, but after years of wasted time and resource.

Rather than different groups putting their own solutions forward, let's have the courage to bring people together and develop a common agenda which has support across the Western Bay's geographic and interest communities – not just business but the social sector, iwi and other major stakeholders.