'Temperature check' on Kaikōura merger

Now that Kaikōura has asked Marlborough to be its partner for Government's formal, Marlburians get to decide whether to say yes or go solo.

Council will open a survey at noon on Monday (20 July) for what Mayor Nadine Taylor called "a temperature check" on whether the districts should pursue amalgamation.

She made this characterisation during Thursday afternoon's workshop in which staff updated councillors on their Kaikōura counterparts' choice and sought feedback on a follow-up round of Marlborough public input.

At a meeting Wednesday postponed a week due to the red-level storm, Kaikōura's council voted 6-1 to merge with Marlborough rather than join Huruni and Waimakariri in forming a North Canterbury district.

Marlburians shared issues for Council to consider in a survey earlier this month. The follow-up polling will ask: If those concerns are addressed, should Marlborough move forward with amalgamation?

This is not a foregone conclusion. As Councillor Cyril Dawson stressed, Marlborough does not have the mandate to merge under Government's Head Start legislation which Kaikōura and other small councils do.

The mayor, meanwhile, noted that the survey "is not a referendum" because it is a voluntary polling of opinion. "What will come back is a piece of data that we will add to other data," she explained.

Council will keep the informal consultation open through noon on July 29, the day before councillors meet again about amalgamation. Council set a 7 August deadline for Marlborough's decision; that is two days ahead of Government's deadline for proposals.

Check Have Your Say - Marlborough District Council after noon on Monday for the survey – and Wednesday's Marlborough Weekly for further coverage.