Does Masterton and the rest of Wairarapa want to be part of the Wellington Supercity proposed by the Local Government Commission? Masterton District Council CEO Pim Borren and local residents voice their opinions.

Wellington's status as the "coolest little capital in the world" would be under threat if it joins with Porirua, Hutt Valley, Kapiti and Wairarapa to form a super-city.

That was the concern of Wellington community group Mt Cook Mobilised when it presented its view on the super-city proposal to the Local Government Commission on Wednesday.

The group was presenting at the second of 17 scheduled public hearings on the commission's proposal to merge the Wellington region's existing nine councils into a single two-tier council.

JOHN NICHOLSON/STUFF SUPER-CITY: Wellington may lose its character as the "coolest little capital in the world" if councils are merged, community group says.

The new council would see a mayor and 21 councillors making decisions of regional importance. Eight local boards, of between six and ten members each, would be charged with making local decisions.

In its submission, Mt Cook Mobilised said Wellington's communities were proud of their identities, which would get lost if they became part of a super-city spanning the lower North Island.

"The unique features of being a Wellingtonian may change, and the current pride of being part of the coolest little capital in the world may not survive."

Spokeswoman Tina Reid said the group currently enjoyed good support from Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council through grants and assistance.

"Council staff have been involved with many of our activities, even to the extent of coming out after dark to assist with fish monitoring."

The group was concerned it and other community groups would lose their direct relationships with councillors and staff with a super-city in place, Reid said.

It was also unclear what funding they would receive from the proposed local boards.

SHOW ME YOUR WORKING

Submitter Ken New told the commissioners they needed to provide more evidence the Auckland super-city has been successful from a financial and social perspective before foisting the same thing on Wellington.

"I think that would be a big ask," he said.

"I was always taught in school to show my working … I think there needs to be more working shown [in the super-city report]."

Wellington was not facing the same growth problems as Auckland, nor did it have the same level of dysfunction among neighbouring councils, he said.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," he said.

"I think this [Wellington super-city] is anti-democratic and the proposal should be withdrawn now so we don't have to wait for a referendum that would clearly be defeated."

HUTT VALLEY - SEAT OF POWER

Submitter Graham Bruce suggested that if some form of super-city did go ahead then the super-council should be based in Lower Hutt rather than Wellington.

Hutt Valley's central location could make the rest of the region may feel more included, rather than simply being tagged on to Wellington, he said.

"Putting it all at one end doesn't make sense."

His reason for not supporting a region-wide super-city was the risk it posed if a bad decision was made.

At present, if the Wellington City Council made a bad decision then it only affected the capital. But one bad decision by a super-city council would tarnish the entire lower North Island, he said.

WHY PAY MORE?

Submitter Barrie Saunders supported greater regional decision-making but was aghast at the estimated $210 million transition cost over 4-5 years.

Rather than spending all that money on a new council structure, he suggested retaining the existing set-up and simply transferring more powers to the regional council.

"This option has a much lower cost than the 'one council' option and a much faster payback," he said.

"It will leave the existing [local councils] with a diminished role, leaving them to downsize their operations - including numbers of councillors - to reflect the new reality."