Selwyn councillors don’t want to amalgamate with Christchurch, but still included it as one of three possible options.

Councillors unanimously decided to further investigate three options on Wednesday, led by Selwyn becoming a standalone unitary authority and an amalgamation between Selwyn and Ashburton.

The third option is a Greater Christchurch amalgamation between Selwyn, Christchurch and Waimakariri, that could also include Hurunui and Kaikoura.

Mayor Lydia Gliddon acknowledged the opposition to a greater Christchurch model from the community responses, but said it made sense to include it as part of the analysis.

“We're going to need to say that we've considered it.”

Council chief executive Steve Gibling said the greater Christchurch option has been identified by other councils in the region as a viable option.

“We may not agree with it, our community may not agree with it, but a broader community might think it does work.

“So if you get that answer then you've got a balance, you've got the community's weighted evidence to say that's not something for us.”

Cr Aaron McGlinchy said including a Christchurch merger option was not so much to advocate it as a solution, but to give people an opportunity to express their opinions on it.

Gliddon said the process was about identifying genuine options to take to the community and reiterated her belief that the timeframe was forcing rushed decision-making.

Cr Tracey Macleod went a step further, declaring “these mergers are on a track to failure”.

“There's been a real sense of takeover, and I think an inability by some leaders in our [region] to actually look at the functions that we are being asked to perform.

“This is not about who gets to be on top.

“It is about how do we do the functions of ECan [Canterbury's regional council] and how do we achieve affordable rates and reliable everyday services for the people across our district.”

She was also sceptical of the process saving money.

“Whether you're looking at Auckland or whether you're looking at Australia or you're looking overseas, there is little or no evidence that the savings that get promised emerge.”

Macleod was yet to be convinced of the benefits of a Greater Christchurch merger.

“The strongest argument I've heard is commuting patterns.

“Where is the evidence for the efficiency, savings, and service improvements?

“If there is compelling evidence that we're all going to save money, then I say, show us the money.

“Show us why Selwyn ratepayers would be better off.”

With Selwyn’s preferred options to go out for a 10-day survey to its community, it could impact the decisions in Ashburton.

Ashburton’s community survey didn’t clearly pick a winner, with the preference clearly split between a stand-alone unitary council and merging with South Canterbury in its ranking system.

However, when the top three preferences were combined, a Rural Selwyn to Rangitata South option ranked highest.

With Selwyn including it as one of its options, Ashburton is caught in a tug-of-war with the South Canterbury councils also considering Ashburton as a partner.

At the top end of Canterbury, Kaikoura voted to pursue joining Marlborough, leaving Waimakariri and Hurunui’s possible merger teetering.

At the other end of Canterbury, Waitaki has landed on looking north to join the South Canterbury alignment of Timaru, Mackenzie and Waimate.

Christchurch has five options on the table: a Christchurch unitary authority, a greater metro area (taking in Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Woodend, Prebbleton, Rolleston, and Lincoln), Christchurch and all of Selwyn, Christchurch plus all of Selwyn and Waimakariri, and an all-of-Canterbury option.

By Jonathan Leask