Auckland changes could affect Kaipara District

“When elephants fight the grass gets trampled. It also gets trampled when elephants make love.”

The quote is attributed to African Leader Julius Nyrere but Kaipara Mayor Neil Tiller says it is currently very relevant to the Kaipara District, the shape and future of which could be dramatically altered by actions beyond its borders.

The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance is currently looking at Auckland’s future and will be making its recommendations in December 2008. They will come into effect before the next local body elections in 2010.

“So far a majority of submissions favour a super city for Auckland and if this was to include the more populous parts of Rodney District we could have rural Rodney possibly wanting to join Kaipara,” Mayor Tiller says. “There have also been submissions suggesting the top third of Rodney should amalgamate with Kaipara which would add another 10,000 to 12,000 people”.

Kaipara District Council has made a submission to the Commission, saying it has a very good relationship with the Rodney District Council and is not advocating that District’s break up. But if this were to happen, Kaipara District Council is confident a mutually beneficial amalgamation could be arranged between Kaipara and rural parts of Rodney.

“North and Western Rodney looks and feels like Kaipara. Its roading network is similar (largely unsealed), its economic base is similar (predominantly agriculture), the urban settlements are similar, the populations are sparse, and their aspirations are understood”.

Kaipara District Council is also vitally interested in how any changes affect Kaipara Harbour, administration of which currently falls between two Regional Council’s, two District Council’s, two Department of Conservation conservancies and different acclimatisation areas.

“This multiplicity of agencies makes coordination difficult, and there is now clear evidence that the Harbour is suffering because of this,” the submission says.

Kaipara District Council believes rationalisation of district boundaries would assist harbour administration and says altering the Northland Regional Council’s boundaries to include the whole Harbour is sensible and should be considered even if Rodney District remains uncharged.

Kaipara could also be significantly affected by changes within the Northland region, including the
Far North District’s application to become a unitary authority, combining the functions of both a regional and district council.

“Whether we like it or not, there is a good chance that if the Far North becomes a unitary authority Whangarei will go for the same and the question will arise as to whether a revamped Kaipara would be big enough to become one,” Mayor Tiller says.

“Should a unitary authority for the Far North and Whangarei proceed it would leave the way open for the establishment of a Kaipara Harbour local authority”.

He has been fielding enquiries about how the Auckland reorganisation and Far North moves will affect Kaipara and says residents need to be aware that big changes are occurring in Local Government and that these could affect this District.

“It is very fluid at the moment and a lot may be the result of things beyond our control, but we are making sure we are involved to ensure Kaipara’s interests are protected.”