New Zealand’s citizens have received a boost through the launch of the first Regional Citizen’s Forum in Wellington.

The Wellington Regional Citizen’s Forum was launched by the Federation of Wellington Residents’ and Progressive Associations (FWPRA) at a function attended by Associate Minister of Local Government Hon. John Carter, Minister of Revenue Hon. Peter Dunne and Katrina Shanks MP on Monday night.

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne and Assc. Min. of Local Government John Carter

The Forum is a collective of civil society groups in the Wellington Region who will act as a conduit for the views and aspirations of residents from Kapiti to Wellington City, up the Hutt Valley and across the plains of the Wairarapa. The concept was first mooted at a conference held earlier this year at parliament buildings, in response to growing unease over the Region’s Mayors and Council Chief Executives having “closed door” discussions about a Wellington super-city.

The launch, attended by over 50 representatives and interested parties, enthusiastically received the news that the Citizen’s Forum will examine the future governance structure of the Wellington Region as well as other matters that affect residents at a regional level. Jim Candiliotis, President of FWPRA, is excited that the mandate exists to create such a high-profile group, and what it will achieve.

“There’s a Mayoral Forum having this debate, a CEO’s forum having this debate, but where are the people that pay the bills in this discussion?” he asks. “They’re deciding the future of the entire Wellington Region with no reference to the citizens who live here!

“But instead of whining, the people of Wellington have taken action through this initiative. We want to see this Forum seep into every community, every household, and destroy the cancerous spread of apathy that has taken hold of our country in recent times.”

Membership to the Forum is extended to all civil society organisations that have an interest in local body politics in the region. This includes residents’ and progressive associations, environmental protection and ‘friends of’ groups, and other interested parties. The collective is made up of a nominated representative from each organisation. Its sole agenda is to raise the profile of issues of regional significance and ensure that the voice of ordinary people is heard loud and clear by the decision-makers in local government.

“The Minister (Association Minister John Carter) pointed out in his speech that the Government had very similar ‘aspirations’ to what we are doing here,” says Jim Candiliotis, “I got the clear impression that central government is keen to see citizens take more control back of their communities and their future.”

Work will continue to build membership of the coalition over the rest of the year, with a full meeting of the coalition planned at the end of January 2011. The priority of that meeting will be discussion and resolution of the amalgamation of Wellington regional councils. Further information can be found at www.residents.org.nz/WRCFC.