The Local Government Commission’s draft proposal for local government reoroganisation in our region is very much modelled on the Auckland supercity model. But we are not Auckland. We are already a super duper City, and the only one in the country with a metropolitan heart.
There’s no surprise that three of the Wellington City Council’s four options for reforming local government in the region involve abolishing the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
The Dominion Post was this week doing its best to talk up Wellington local body amalgamation again, with a thinly-disguised opinion piece from Colin James masquerading as news. The theory is that the “threat” of the Auckland super-city needs a counterweight in Wellington, and that the only solution is some kind of regional amalgamation.
However the usual lack of enthusiasm from the locals is noted – with apparently no-one other than Fran Wilde and Colin James in favour of the idea.
A conference of residents’ associations at Parliament on Saturday decided to set up a citizens’ forum – as a direct response to the “closed shop” approach of the Wellington Mayoral Forum’s review of governance in the region.
Some of our local civic leaders have, not surprisingly, jumped on the ‘Supercity Auckland’ bandwagon. If Auckland, they say, why not Wellington? Anyone with a concern for democracy in local government should be afraid, very afraid.
BATS is back for FRINGE 2026! From 13 February – 7 March, we’re proud to be a key venue for the festival. Check out all the incredible shows you can catch at 1 Kent Terrace this year.
Come and celebrate Francophonie Month with the Alliance Française Wellington, as they host a special illustrated talk by art historian David Maskill on the hidden secrets of the Louvre between 1608-1806. Discover how the […]
Following his popular talk Stonehenge: Old Rocks, New Theories at Te Papa in 2025, UK based Archaeologist and BBC broadcaster Julian Richards has returned to New Zealand’s shores! Join Julian […]
9 - 14 March 2026 This tour departs from Christchurch by coach over Arthur’s Pass to the West Coast and we explore the region with Historical Geography and guide Richard Willis.
