Amalgamation, merger, reorganisation and rationalisation of local government has all been tried before.

But if you try what you've always tried, you'll get what you always got - no change.
The new TCC councillors promised to fix our problems but all they've come up with is a 6.7 per cent rates increase.

Supposedly most of it is a levy, not a rates increase? Yeah right! I call that a fail. What's really needed is a total transformation of Local Government and councils. Businessman Paul Adams is to be applauded for taking lead in looking for real change. With no Local Government baggage, wouldn't it be great if he led a new entity and shook it free of the last 100 years of ingrained bureaucracy.

A number of elected or potential councillors and bureaucrats, who make their living off the ratepayer, may hate the idea of a new, slimmed down structure - but they've had their chance. We need a transformation and we need it now.

T Brown,Tauranga City.