Our recent decision on local government reform wasn’t the end of the conversation. In many ways, it marked the beginning of a far more important one.

Alongside our unanimous decision not to participate in the Government’s Head Start process, Council also resolved to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with our neighbouring councils. That agreement will help us explore what a better system could look like, how we will manage Regional Council functions when Horizons dissolves, and will allow us to look together at opportunities to strengthen local government through shared services, different governance models, or structural change.

Those initial conversations will focus on the councils that have agreed to be part of the Memorandum of Understanding. That includes all councils in the region except Palmerston North and Horowhenua. Importantly, the door remains open should either wish to join and be part of discussions in the future, but for now it will be without them.

What is already apparent is the strong early alignment among the participating rural councils. We share many of the same opportunities, challenges and aspirations, and recent discussions have reinforced that there may well be a strong and credible pathway built around rural communities working together, and that could end up being a better option as city needs can be quite different to rural needs. Meaningful reform doesn’t have to revolve around a city to be both viable and ambitious.

To be clear, I would not support any changes to how our structures might look without the endorsement of our community. The people of the Tararua District have already shown how valuable their voice is, and they will remain at the centre of every major decision.

That brings me to what I believe is the most important lesson from the past few months.

I want to again thank everyone who took the time to have their say. Whether you came to one of our public meetings, wrote a submission, sent an email, or simply stopped one of your councillors for a conversation, you helped shape the direction we have taken.

Too often, people wonder whether consultation really makes a difference. This time, it unquestionably did.

Local voice isn’t something to be reluctantly tolerated. It’s one of local government’s greatest strengths and gives it its legitimacy.

The people making decisions should understand the communities affected by its decisions. They should know the roads people drive every day, the halls volunteers maintain, the sports clubs, businesses, schools and volunteers that hold communities together, and with regional council functions, our rivers and land. Decisions are almost always better when they’re made as close as possible to the people who live with the consequences.

Ironically, New Zealand already has one of the most centralised systems of government in the developed world. Compared with many developed countries we don’t have a large number of councils for our population and real reform won’t come from simply bolting existing councils together and hoping for the best. It will come from designing a system that is financially sustainable, empowers local decision making, encourages collaboration where it adds value, and keeps communities connected to the people making decisions on their behalf.

Our conversations will now step up among our willing neighbours, and we’ll be focused on how we can work together to manage regional council functions and create a system that is more efficient and protects local voice.

Whatever shape those discussions ultimately take, nothing will proceed without the support of the people of the Tararua District.

That is exactly how it should be.

Ngā mihi nui, many thanks,

Scott Gilmore - Mayor