Monday June 15, 2026
News:
ORC Councillors clash over government’s non-elected voting ban
An Otago regional councillor says a government plan to ban non-elected members from voting on council committees misses the mark and warns councils will easily find loopholes.
Local Government Minister Simon Watts announced the government will amend the Local Government Act to restrict committee voting rights to elected members only.
But Dunstan ward councillor Michael Laws said those celebrating or criticising the decision needed to read the fine print.
"All that's been removed is the right to vote," Michael said.
He argued councils could easily bypass the law's intent by continuing to appoint, pay, and give speaking rights to iwi and other non-elected representatives.
Michael also flagged an ongoing dispute between Ngāi Tahu and the ORC over whether iwi representatives have an inherent right to sit at the council table, stating that favouring one culture was "inherently undemocratic".
He said iwi influence over staff decisions through the agency Aukaha was a "greater threat to democracy and transparency".....
See full article HERE
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Geoff Parker: Equality Before the Law - Why Equity Is Dividing New Zealand
John Robertson: The Tyranny of the Unmeasurable - Why Legislation Must Be Secular
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Te Pāti Māori Names New Vice Presidents Ahead of Election Battle
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"All that's been removed is the right to vote," Michael said.
He argued councils could easily bypass the law's intent by continuing to appoint, pay, and give speaking rights to iwi and other non-elected representatives.
Michael also flagged an ongoing dispute between Ngāi Tahu and the ORC over whether iwi representatives have an inherent right to sit at the council table, stating that favouring one culture was "inherently undemocratic".
He said iwi influence over staff decisions through the agency Aukaha was a "greater threat to democracy and transparency".....
See full article HERE
Articles:
Bob Edlin: Health NZ wants hospital staff to be savvy about the Treaty......
Pee Kay: It seems that once the public funding tap is turned on, it simply never turns off.
Clive Bibby: “The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things…”
Geoff Parker: Equality Before the Law - Why Equity Is Dividing New Zealand
John Robertson: The Tyranny of the Unmeasurable - Why Legislation Must Be Secular
Propaganda:
Te Pāti Māori Names New Vice Presidents Ahead of Election Battle
Te Tiriti Rollbacks Could Jeopardise Trade Deals, Tribunal Told
Equity Vs Equality? Why Educators And Health Experts Say Understanding The Difference Matters
Te Tiriti duplicity: honoured abroad but dismissed at home
This Breaking Views Update monitors race relations in the media on a weekly basis. New material is added regularly. If you would like to send Letters to the Editor in response to any of these articles, most media addresses can be found HERE.
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