Hamilton City Council’s decision not to join a Head Start proposal is one of many examples that prove the process was ill-suited for New Zealand’s population and economic powerhouses.
Of the 18 proposals submitted by this week’s deadline, many of New Zealand’s largest local government authorities have either not submitted a proposal, are unwilling members of the amalgamation models they have been included in, or submitted proposals that were non-compliant with central government’s criteria, including:
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Hamilton
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Christchurch
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Tauranga
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Rotorua
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New Plymouth.
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Palmerston North
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Upper Hutt.
Together, these cities are home to more than 1 million New Zealanders.
Among them are three of New Zealand’s five largest cities, Christchurch, Hamilton and Tauranga.
The uptake among city councils suggests the criteria may not have adequately recognised the circumstances for councils serving major population and economic centres.
Hamilton Mayor Tim Macindoe says the Head Start proposals submitted reinforce Hamilton’s stance that “getting reform done is important, getting it right is non-negotiable”.
“We said no to the Western Waikato Unitary proposal because we’re saying yes to a better solution.
“Cities need reform that’s city-focused. The Waikato’s growth engine deserves a governance model that is geared up to handle the issues we’ve identified for a long time through the Metro-Spatial Plan and Future Proof partnership.”
The Head Start proposals have exposed that metro and rural areas have distinct communities and challenges that warrant separate reform solutions.
“Our Council was clear that a rushed solution today could be a costly mistake tomorrow," says Mayor Macindoe. "We support reform, but we weren’t willing to sign up to the wrong model."
Since its decision last Thursday to not join the Western Waikato proposal, Hamilton City Council has been drafting a submission to central government that outlines a pathway for metro-focused councils that have been sidelined by Head Start.
"Good reform is built on evidence, not expediency,” says Mayor Macindoe. "Our responsibility is to future generations. We shouldn’t be hurried by political timelines."
Hamilton City Council is submitting its report to central government today and will release it publicly next week.