The Hurunui District Council is undecided as yet about its preferred option in proposed local government re-organisation options. Photo: David Hill

By David Hill
Local Democracy Reporter

The choice between a North Canterbury or a rural Canterbury unitary council has left the Hurunui District Council undecided.

Councils have until August 9 to submit proposals on local government reorganisation, but the Hurunui District Council voted to defer deciding on a preference until early August at a council meeting on Tuesday, June 9.

The proposals are expected to be unitary councils, to take on regional council functions.

Councillors debated three options, including a North Canterbury option with the Waimakariri and Kaikōura councils, while the other two were rural options.

Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie recommended going with the North Canterbury option, even though staff analysis indicated a north/central Canterbury or rural Canterbury options were stronger financially.

‘‘This model is not reliant on a Greater Christchurch Partnership model being adopted, so it’s a fairly achievable model and there is some support in the community.

‘‘There is no certainty a Greater Christchurch Partnership model will prevail, so it’s better to back a winning horse.’’

The Greater Christchurch Partnership includes the urban areas of Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri, including the towns of Kaiapoi, Rangiora and Rolleston.

But the Waimakariri and Selwyn have both expressed their opposition to a Greater Christchurch unitary council.

A Hurunui staff report showed the north/central Canterbury model had scored the highest, as it had the ‘‘best mix of scale, rates affordability, operating efficiency and debt resilience’’.

It would include Hurunui, Kaikōura, Ashburton, Banks Peninsula and the rural parts of Waimakariri and Selwyn districts and have a combined population of more than 120,000 people.

A rural Canterbury model would add in the Timaru, Mackenzie, Waimate and Waitaki districts and have a combined population of around 210,000 people, giving it scale and a combined GDP of $16 billion, the report said.

A North Canterbury council would combine Kaikōura, Hurunui and Waimakariri, with a combined population of around 90,000 people.

It had the ‘‘best compactness and low rates burden, but weaker debt/revenue than the two larger Canterbury models and a larger population imbalance’’, the report said.

Mayor Marie Black said the North Canterbury model had strong support during a recent community survey.

‘‘I’m really heartened by how strong the themes were around the community.

‘‘North Canterbury is a known brand, even if it doesn’t sit as financially viable as the other options.’’

Cr Christopher Carthy said residents in the rural west ward were concerned the ‘‘rural voice’’ would be lost in a North Canterbury council.

‘‘They don’t want to lose their rural voice to urbanites who live in satellite cities to the big city.’’

The Hurunui District Council will conduct a survey of households before deciding in early August on its preferred partners for an application under the Government’s Headstart proposal.

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