'Consternation' at proposal for amalgamated southern councils

A local government expert fears a proposal to combine Southland's four councils could further distance the public from local politics.

On Wednesday, Southland Mayor Rob Scott voiced his vision for the region to consist of two unitary authorities: one district-based and one unitary-based.

The move would combine the four existing councils and reduce costs while improving efficiency, he said.

But Gore Mayor Ben Bell responded with fears it was selling "hugs and rainbows" to ratepayers.

Local government expert Andy Asquith, of the University of Technology Sydney, has expressed concern too, saying the announcement caused him "a bit of consternation".

Asquith said there was an assumption amalgamation increased efficiency, but that wasn't always the case.

"We always hear about efficiency. What about effectiveness?

"The most efficient council is to have no councillors.

"There's something called the cost of democracy. That is the idea of having people who represent us, and there's a price to pay for that."

People were already questioning the value of local government, Asquith, an expert in New Zealand local politics, said.

For him, the biggest concern was that larger councils generally meant less connection with those on the street.

"Councils become more distant, more disconnected."

He believed smaller councils had an edge on larger ones because councillors were more likely to be known, which could increase voter turnout.

Ultimately, he didn't think the proposed changes would go ahead.

"The golden rule of amalgamations is turkeys don't vote for Christmas.

"If you've got three mayors and you amalgamate three councils, there's only one mayor, isn't there? So there's only one set of foreign junkets, and baby kissing."

Local Government NZ chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said it was inevitable councils and communities had conversations about amalgamation, especially in the face of financial pressure.

While amalgamation was one option, there were a range of ways councils could collaborate including through joint committees and other arrangements, she said.

"Ultimately, it should be up to councils and their communities to decide what is best for them."

According to data from Vote Local, overall voter turnout for the 2022 local election was just over 40 per cent.

Southland recorded a turnout of 48 per cent, while Invercargill reached 52 per cent and Gore 53 per cent.

Kaikōura led the way at 62 per cent, with Carterton and Westland close behind on 59 per cent.

Auckland came in at 36 per cent while Hamilton recorded the lowest turnout at 29 per cent.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

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