The Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance is backing Wellington Mayor Andrew Little's call that any council amalgamation across the Wellington region must only proceed with the backing of ratepayers through a referendum.

Wellington Ratepayers Alliance spokesperson, James Ross, says;

“Mayor Little was bang-on when he said ‘the bottom line is this: local people should decide the future of their local governments.’”

“Unlike Ministers pushing councils into rushed restructuring, Mayor Little understands both the benefits and the risks that come with amalgamation. The people who pay the bills and live with the consequences deserve the final say.”

“Ten weeks is nowhere near long enough to decide the future shape of local democracy in Wellington. Councils across the region should be putting the question directly to ratepayers well before making decisions that cannot easily be undone.”

“Whether rehashing the bloated Auckland Supercity in the capital is the right answer or not, democracy still matters. Local government should only be reorganised with the consent of the communities it serves, not because Ministers have decided they know best.”