Amalgamation can be defeated

I was delighted to read this morning’s Talking Point column in the Hawke's Bay Today. For too long the pro-amalgamation lobby have been telling us that amalgamation is inevitable so we might as well get on with it.  

This morning’s correspondent tells us that unless the pro-amalgamation lobby sells it twisted message properly, amalgamation will be defeated. 

Amalgamation can be defeated and it will be. 

This morning’s erstwhile correspondent seems determined to ignore clear evidence of the failure of amalgamations around the world.  Rather he clings to the nonsense that is the Winder report.  

He talks of savings of $10m with no mention that a large chunk of that is roading and that savings in roading can be made whether we amalgamate or not. And of course no mention is made of the estimated $18.4m cost of amalgamation.  And no mention is made of the fact that since the report was written, Winder himself has said that the cost will be “many millions of dollars more” than first thought. 

I was just delighted to be reminded that the proposal to amalgamate all councils in Hawkes Bay can be defeated.