Acting Nelson Mayor: Incoming govt shouldn’t just ‘wind back the clock’

Nelson’s acting mayor is hoping that the incoming government won’t just “wind back the clock six years” and delay action on critical issues facing councils around the country.

With a National-led government now all-but-certain to take the reins from Labour following the election, uncertainty hangs over councils as the former government’s major reforms in water and resource management sit on the chopping block.

“Across local government, the conversations are really a ‘wait and see’ and maybe try to anticipate,” says Nelson’s acting mayor Rohan O’Neill-Stevens.

“We don’t know clearly what’s going to happen for a lot of these things, but what we do know is that the underlying issues are still there.”

They say there are a range of options available as the incoming coalition government figures out its priorities and policy directions other than “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” so that areas of political difference can be adjusted in a way that keeps change moving forward.

“I would be frustrated if the answer is to wind back the clock six years… We’re very willing to work with the government to get good outcomes for this region.”

Rohan acknowledges that which policies may be delivered are largely subject to coalition negotiations, but they say there are new opportunities on the horizon such as National’s City and Regional Deals plan that would see local and central government create long-term pipelines of regional projects.

“That is already being discussed, and work is going on, and actually an area where I think we as a region are really well-positioned to be a first cab off the rank for that kind of longer-term investment.”

Rohan says that the local government sector is facing a funding crisis and the prospect of reduced funds from central government over the next term – all three likely coalition partners have committed to limiting spending – will be difficult for councils.

“Local government has pushed really strongly for greater investment from central government and a greater share of tax revenue down into our regions so that we can minimise the burden of significant rates increases,” they say.

“We’re going to have to work really hard to navigate what is going to be an incredibly tough challenge.”

Nelson’s Labour MP Rachel Boyack has appeared to narrowly retain her seat after the special votes have been counted, and though she will no longer be a member of a party in government, Rohan says that disconnect won’t be a barrier to the region’s advocacy.

“We’re going to work constructively with our local MP and with the government to get wins across the line.”