Auckland Council’s vote to oppose the Treaty Principles Bill has opponents questioning why a local body is involved in a national issue.
On The Platform with Sean Plunket, Councillor Maurice Williamson expressed frustration, saying, “The treaty is an agreement between the Crown and Māori… we’re not the Crown. Why are we getting involved in something that has nothing to do with us?”
The council held a meeting where Committee Chair Richard Hills pushed for a motion opposing the bill, despite initial plans to submit neutral feedback. Williamson and others argued that council resources should not be used to engage in matters beyond its remit, such as national treaty issues. “We’re elected to pick up your rubbish, put in footpaths, and provide fresh water,” he said.
The final vote on whether to remove the word “opposition” from the council’s submission regarding the Treaty Principles Bill resulted in a 10–10 tie. Councillor Richard Hills cast the deciding vote to retain the word “opposition,” ensuring the council’s submission explicitly opposed the bill.
Notably, the tie occurred because two unelected members of the Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) participated in the vote. “It wasn’t even the councillors’ majority will that decided this,” Williamson exclaimed.
“We should be putting all our energy into improving service levels and cutting waste, not debating national treaty matters,” Williamson told Plunket.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown was absent during the vote.
The Centrist is a new online news platform that strives to provide a balance to the public debate - where this article was sourced.
The final vote on whether to remove the word “opposition” from the council’s submission regarding the Treaty Principles Bill resulted in a 10–10 tie. Councillor Richard Hills cast the deciding vote to retain the word “opposition,” ensuring the council’s submission explicitly opposed the bill.
Notably, the tie occurred because two unelected members of the Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) participated in the vote. “It wasn’t even the councillors’ majority will that decided this,” Williamson exclaimed.
“We should be putting all our energy into improving service levels and cutting waste, not debating national treaty matters,” Williamson told Plunket.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown was absent during the vote.
The Centrist is a new online news platform that strives to provide a balance to the public debate - where this article was sourced.
7 comments:
A very clear example of how co-governance plays out in reality
No surprise there!
"We’re not the Crown" said Williamson?
No, but the councils are "corporations", and as such, are answerable to parliament (a crown corporation) who set the corporate agenda to be followed.
The introduction of unelected voters to reach the 10-10 stalemate shows why ALL unelected seats must be abolished.
@Allen. EXACTLY!
Why don't we have complete anarchy, do away with democracy and elected seats? This bunch are doing this anyway, most Maori ward seats are pretty much unelected when you look at the numbers of votes that put their bums on the seats. The Northland Regional Council have just gone a step further by signing the first-ever Iwi-Council resource management agreement in Northland, so let's just do away with the Councils and let iwi do it all! Beam me up Scotty ... Scotty, will you push that button now!, Scotty, are you listening?
Getting rid of Maori Electorates and seats is the first step to get rid of this madness. Check out the 'Parliament petitions" on Parliaments website. Some interesting petitions to sign including one to get rid of Maori Seats. After that we can ask for unelected council positions to lose voting rights. One step at a time!!
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