Kāpiti Mayor Janet Holborow on amalgamation plans

A Wellington amalgamation could potentially go wider than expected to the Kāpiti Coast, Wairarapa and Horowhenua after a mayoral meeting last Friday disclosed by the Wellington City Mayor on the show today.

Nick chats to Kāpiti Mayor Janet Holborow, who is on her way back from a meeting with Horowhenua Mayor Wanden.

Mayor Holborow shares how talks have been going with the other councils and if this merger could be a reality.

The logistics of a Wellington wide one appear to be disadvantageous at this point to Kāpiti, but they are open to conversations that could prove otherwise. 

Could the amalgamation just be between Horowhenua and Kapiti?

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
We've been joined by Kapiti Mayor Janet Hobro.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
Good morning, Janet, good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
So this is exciting, isn't it? Or is it? Oh?

Speaker 3 (00:24):
Well, certainly it's a really interesting conversation that's happened at
the moment, and the future isn't going to look the
same as it does now. I heard your interview with
Mayor Little actually when I was on the way home
from having a chat with a Finowa, So yeah, it
was interesting to hear his perspective on how the conversation's going.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Did you think it? Did you? Did you get something
completely different out of that conversation?

Speaker 3 (00:47):
No, I think I think what I heard him say
was that we're all having a conversation at the moment,
that there are a few metros lower Hut put into
a Wellington that have done a poll they're ready to
move with amalgamation, and that the rest of us are
joining in the conversation at the moment.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
So, I mean, this is interesting for me as a
talk back host in the region. I have always thought
that you know, rightly or wrongly, that Kapiti is doing
their own thing and doing extremely well. And I don't
get any callers ever ringing up and complaining about way
things are done in Capity. The water is great, you're great,
the previous mayor was great. It's all fantastic. Why would
you contemplate going into this mega, mega city idea.

Speaker 3 (01:27):
Well, I don't think we are really content. I don't
know if contemplates the word the fact. And you're right,
things are going really well in Carpity. We've just formed
our water entity. We had no trouble getting our water
services delivery planned through. We've got a strong financial strategy,
slightly lower rates rises than Wellington projected for this year,

(01:49):
but looking to save that's signed some more savings through
the long term plan. We've got quite a strong relationship
with sort of fene as well, with plenty of shared services,
and really we're we're going we're going great guns up here.
But status quo isn't going to be an option in
the future because of course the regional councils are going

(02:11):
to disappear, so we need to do some homework about
how viable it is to take on those services. We've
had an initial lock and it's looking pretty good. We'd
be fine standing on our own. But we are also
getting a clear message from central government that they're going
to expect councils to make friends with each other and
form some large entities. So makes sense to be having

(02:33):
a conversation.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
Are you concerned by the three months that the government's
given you?

Speaker 3 (02:38):
Well, for three months is something that councils that are
ready can opt into. There is what's called the backstop process,
which is actually the majority of councils will be going
into that process further down the track, and that might
well make more sense for us. But I understand that
Wellington put it on a lower hut. They're raring to go.

(03:00):
They think they can gain a lot of savings and
a lot of efficiencies. So yeah, all power to them,
and we're happy to sit there, have the conversation and
see if there might be any benefits from us for
joining some kind of larger entity in the shorter term.
But the moment, really it's not looking.

Speaker 2 (03:16):
Likely, not likely, but possible.

Speaker 3 (03:20):
Well, I think in this whole conversation because also the
legislation is such a moving feast that we kind of
need to be part of all of the conversations. Also
to future proof if we want to join an entity
later on. And also I think when you're making decisions
in local government, you really need to have all the
information in front of you, keep all your options open,

(03:42):
do your homework, and also find opportunities for savings and
efficiencies where you can. But having said that, you know
we're certainly not at the moment contemplating a megacity deal
without having a conversation for starters with our community.

Speaker 2 (03:59):
First, what do you think your community will feel? Now?
My parents used to live up there. I think that's
so insula that they won't be interested in anything. I mean,
it's retirement village of New Zealand, isn't it.

Speaker 3 (04:10):
It's not really that one quite describe it as that.
I think we've got a very vibrant, forward looking council
actually and great for people of all ages in Carpany.
But yeah, I think the main consideration is the one
that you opened with that we're really strong in terms
of our water services, our finance, our infrastructure, our plan

(04:35):
for the future. So I mean, in an ideal world,
I think it would be great if we could truck
on as we are, but that might not be the
reality in the future.

Speaker 2 (04:44):
You've just said that you have come from a meeting
with the mayor of Horror Fornur. My indication from my
interview with the mayor little was Horror for Neeur are
quite keen on joining the Bigoton, but will be will
be have to be guided by you.

Speaker 3 (05:02):
Look, I don't want to speak on behalf of but
from the conversations I've had with them, they're pretty much
in a similar position to us. We've got options open
to us. We can formalize some of the agreements that
we already have, work together, We've got a lot in common.
They also have the opportunity of joining up with Palmerston North.

(05:25):
But from what I understand, Bernie and his council are
very much of a mind to, as I say again
the evidence, talk to the community and make sure that
they do the best for the future of their district.

Speaker 2 (05:37):
Now, I'll tell you my gut feeling and you can
tell me yours. My gut feeling is when you take
it to your people, they'll be dead against.

Speaker 3 (05:43):
It, against joining a call a mega city with Wellington. Yeah,
I don't think there would be an appetite for that,
particularly twenty sixteen, the last time we went through that
consultation that was a resounding no. And if anything, since then,
our situations got better and Wellington have some problems that

(06:06):
we wouldn't necessarily want to be helping to pay for.

Speaker 2 (06:09):
Right you see me? Andrew Little so that the other
way he said that Wellington's paying for too much of
the region.

Speaker 3 (06:17):
I think he's referring to some of the work that
the regional Council is doing in flood management and things
like that which benefit rural communities because they've got a
smaller population base to pay for those things. I think
that's what he might have been referring to. I mean,
there are, you know, some some advantages of being part

(06:38):
of a large entity potentially, but we need to establish that.
We need to do our homework, do the sums, do
the figures, and also work out what our communities of
interest are and how our interests are going to be
best served. So there's a lot of work to do,
and I think the fact that Wellington and some other
councils are able to go early is they've done a

(06:59):
bit of that work already, and also the financial benefits
are very clear to them, whereas for counsels like us
that's not the case.

Speaker 2 (07:08):
Do you have an open mind for it?

Speaker 3 (07:11):
I have a very open mind. I always do as
an elected member, and my council does as well. But
as I say, there's just there's just a there's just
a whole lot more work to be done. But the
fact that we've got an open mind is reflected in
the fact that we're still joining the conversation with Wellington,
just like we did with Water until we did our homework,
worked out we were going to be better by ourselves

(07:32):
and then went that way.

Speaker 2 (07:33):
Well, I reckon now that you've got Transmission Gully, you're
just a suburb of Wellington anyway. I think I think
we're a lot closer than we've ever been from that's
from someone with a family connection to the area there.
I'll leave it down. Thanks for haring, thanks for joining
us on the show, and keep up, keep up the
good work. I'm actually up there this afternoon. I'm up

(07:56):
the out so i'll give it a review tomorrow. That's
Janet Holbro, who is the mayor of Capity.

Speaker 1 (08:05):
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