Contrary to the hype leading into the Local Government New Zealand conference in Christchurch, the two Western Bay of Plenty mayors say Rodney Hide was well received.
Minister for Local Government Rodney Hide is the driving force behind hefty restructuring of councils throughout the country and many mayors have voiced concern that he is going too far.

His aim is to reduce the regulations and make reforms that will lower council and ratepayer costs by speeding up the decision making processes.
Western Bay Mayor Ross Patterson says, 'I detect a hint of softening, or a change of direction from the far right, there was discussion about law and order and public health issues and how they relate to community well being.”
'I think Rodney is mellowing and now starting to realise that there is a lot more to community well being and local government than core services,” says Ross.
Overall Rodney was well received by the 600 delegates, says Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby.
'He focused a lot on the need for local government to lift its overall service and performance and the role that it can and should play,” says Stuart.
Rodney's undertaking to remove some central government regulatory control over local government is supported by Stuart.
'Respective governments have imposed regulations and compliance rules on local governments which take time to comply with and add to costs,” says Stuart.
These policy positions were generally well received by the attendees of the conference and prompted Stuart Crosby to say, 'It wasn't the bun fight everyone expected.”