These days it doesn't happen often but a recent landmark
decision affecting the lives of the rural folk in the Tairawhiti (East Coast)
region has gone someway to restoring faith in the democratic system of
government in this country.
To say that it has been the result of dogged determination
by a handful of battlers to protect their rights against the increasingly
controlling interests of an urban majority would be the understatement of the
year.
The local body electoral system had operated well for
decades in our region, in spite of some aspects of non compliance with the
Local Government electoral law (two of the four rural wards had been operating
without the minimum number of electors within the ward boundaries for many
years), until a complaint was laid with the Electoral Commission which forced a
review by Council with subsequent recommendations for a new compliant electoral
structure.
The subsequent hearings conducted by the Electoral
Commission heard representations from Council supporting their recommended
format and also appeals to that proposal
from objectors - some of whom offered alternative suggestions for a compromise
solution.
The Council's proposal included plans to do away with the
current rural wards altogether and replace them with 9 councillors plus the
Mayor elected at large servicing the whole region. The compromise offered by
the submitters was for a reduced number of rural wards from four to three in
order to have all rural wards complying with the "minimum number of
electors" section of the law. It also included the suggestion of having
one city ward comprising seven councillors elected at large.
Most people with an ounce of brain would have understood
the rural people's concerns which were based on a belief that there are
communities within the rural sector that have common interests not shared with
their city cousins. These interests are important because they determine the
way things operate in the rural areas and it is important that this commonality is represented by
councillors who understand those interests and can advocate on behalf of them
when decisions are being made at the Council table.
Prior to the hearings process, it was obvious that the
rural communities were not at all confident that their proposal would get
across the line given the arrogance of both the city Councillors and some
members of the media who openly scoffed that the verdict would be a "slam
dunc" in favour of their proposal.
Well, we shouldn't have worried.
Not only did the Commission's decision reject the
Council's draconian version but it plumbed for virtually more of the same - a
retention of the status quo which means the two rural wards that had been
operating in defiance of the law can continue to do so. It simply agreed with
our submissions based on the need for special interest communities being
represented by their own kind.
As you can imagine, there is a fair amount of egg on the
faces of those councillors who thought they knew best. Whether they will humbly
accept their chastisement and learn from the experience or throw their toys out
of the cot and resign remains to be seen but thankfully, their future actions
are somewhat irrelevant.
We now have the basis for electing a new council in
October that will be wary of treating the rural sector with the contempt it
showed during the recent debacle.
And we can be confident that the Commission's decision
will raise new hope for more cooperation between town and country on matters
that affect us all - which means most things!
Readers, particularly those from rural communities in
other parts of the country, who may be facing similar threats, should take
heart that a precedent has been set that may well help them overcome their
difficulties.
All in all, good news for the sod busters. A welcome
respite for communities under siege and a poke in the eye for the commissars
who want us all dancing to their tune.
Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and
community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.
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