Amalgamation Mess
The more examples of proposed amalgamation plans that are gaining media attention , the more it explains the folly of the move to force local government to travel down a path no one really wants.
It is highly likely the wrong people are in charge of coming up with these plans in the first place and the politics behind the scenes must be extraordinary.
It really is a mess.
To solve a problem first one must understand what one is trying to solve. Local Government is a strange beast as there are so many variables in the best country in the world and trying to fit all these variables in to the same box is a task fraught with difficulty .
Aside from the complexity is the raft of legislation that dictates the course of local government .So many dictates that guide the people through their complicated lives.
Options appearing include total amalgamations, part amalgamations , unitary authorities, halving authorities and some saying no to any change.
I think this reflects the stupidity of government trying to force ratepayers into a corner.
The problem with local government was never properly identified thus the dire situation we are in ow and it will get worse if there is follow through.
There was at least one Mayor or former Mayor who identified what were the problems and how to approach them.
Hooray.
We are going to end up with a terrible model of local government and at a time when water is being corporatised along with other major legislative changes the future is looking extremely challenging.