For the first time in my lifetime, I am witnessing a Government that is distancing itself from the public, ignoring the voices of the people who elected it, and aligning itself instead with unelected iwi authorities who now hold increasing power over public assets, public services, and public decision‑making.
Just as in nature, when the lead goose breaks formation and flies away, the flock is left struggling in turbulence — directionless, unsupported, and burdened. A Prime Minister who leaves his flock to fend for themselves while he aligns with unelected interests has failed the basic duty of leadership.
The flock does not exist to serve the leader.
The leader exists to serve the flock.
THE GOVERNMENT’S DOUBLE STANDARD ON UN-ELECTED POWER
The Government has ended unelected voting members on some council committees — yet refuses to remove: Auckland’s Independent Māori Statutory Board seats, and Ngāi Tahu’s unelected seats on Environment Canterbury.
Both hold full voting powers over rates, spending, planning, and regulation.
Minister Watts’ justification — that Parliament created these seats — is not a constitutional defense. It is a contradiction of the principle he himself stated:
Unelected members should not vote on rates, spending, and regulations when they lack a democratic mandate.
If this principle is true, it must apply everywhere.
THE SPREAD OF CO‑GOVERNANCE IN WATER
Despite pre‑election commitments, co‑governance of water is not ending. It is accelerating.
Wellington’s Metropolitan Water Services Delivery Plan introduced iwi “partners” with unelected authority.
Waikato’s IAWAI – Flowing Waters Limited, a full partnership with Waikato‑Tainui, is weeks away from taking over storm water, sewerage, and drinking water.
The unelected “Forum” is being handed powers to: appoint and remove directors, appoint the chair, set strategy, priorities, and plans, set performance indicators, monitor the company instead of elected councillors.
This is governance without election.
NOW OR NEVER — THE FINAL LEGISLATIVE WINDOW
A local government amendment bill is before Parliament right now.
This is the last opportunity before the election to: restore democratic control, remove unelected authority, stop co‑governance of water, return councils and subsidiaries to democratic models.
Once the new water entities are operational, they will be extremely difficult to unwind.
CONSTITUTIONAL WARNING
New Zealand’s constitutional framework rests on: democratic mandate, equality before the law, accountability of Ministers, neutral public administration, and sovereignty of the people through Parliament
Any system that allows unelected individuals to exercise binding authority over public assets or public decision‑making is a departure from constitutional norms.
Any Government that preserves such systems while claiming to defend democracy is acting in contradiction to its own stated principles.
A Prime Minister who refuses to correct these breaches is failing in the most fundamental duty of leadership: to represent the whole nation, not selected interests.
THE PUBLIC IS NOT BEING HEARD — AND THAT MUST END
The public is speaking.
The Government is not listening.
The flock has been left without its leader.
And the country is being steered by unelected hands.
Ivan Barnett is an 82 year old retired farmer who began farming in 1959 at age fifteen. He retired to Beckenham in 2022 . This article was sourced HERE
The leader exists to serve the flock.
THE GOVERNMENT’S DOUBLE STANDARD ON UN-ELECTED POWER
The Government has ended unelected voting members on some council committees — yet refuses to remove: Auckland’s Independent Māori Statutory Board seats, and Ngāi Tahu’s unelected seats on Environment Canterbury.
Both hold full voting powers over rates, spending, planning, and regulation.
Minister Watts’ justification — that Parliament created these seats — is not a constitutional defense. It is a contradiction of the principle he himself stated:
Unelected members should not vote on rates, spending, and regulations when they lack a democratic mandate.
If this principle is true, it must apply everywhere.
THE SPREAD OF CO‑GOVERNANCE IN WATER
Despite pre‑election commitments, co‑governance of water is not ending. It is accelerating.
Wellington’s Metropolitan Water Services Delivery Plan introduced iwi “partners” with unelected authority.
Waikato’s IAWAI – Flowing Waters Limited, a full partnership with Waikato‑Tainui, is weeks away from taking over storm water, sewerage, and drinking water.
The unelected “Forum” is being handed powers to: appoint and remove directors, appoint the chair, set strategy, priorities, and plans, set performance indicators, monitor the company instead of elected councillors.
This is governance without election.
NOW OR NEVER — THE FINAL LEGISLATIVE WINDOW
A local government amendment bill is before Parliament right now.
This is the last opportunity before the election to: restore democratic control, remove unelected authority, stop co‑governance of water, return councils and subsidiaries to democratic models.
Once the new water entities are operational, they will be extremely difficult to unwind.
CONSTITUTIONAL WARNING
New Zealand’s constitutional framework rests on: democratic mandate, equality before the law, accountability of Ministers, neutral public administration, and sovereignty of the people through Parliament
Any system that allows unelected individuals to exercise binding authority over public assets or public decision‑making is a departure from constitutional norms.
Any Government that preserves such systems while claiming to defend democracy is acting in contradiction to its own stated principles.
A Prime Minister who refuses to correct these breaches is failing in the most fundamental duty of leadership: to represent the whole nation, not selected interests.
THE PUBLIC IS NOT BEING HEARD — AND THAT MUST END
The public is speaking.
The Government is not listening.
The flock has been left without its leader.
And the country is being steered by unelected hands.
Ivan Barnett is an 82 year old retired farmer who began farming in 1959 at age fifteen. He retired to Beckenham in 2022 . This article was sourced HERE
13 comments:
Democracy died years ago in Hobbitville. Traditionally we voters naively weigh up the political ambitions of each party and vote accordingly. In reality, all we get are new faces but the same dreadful policies with minor tweaks that are detrimental to our country’s wellbeing. Once in office, Central and Local govt alike pack away their empty promises and prepare to dupe the punters again at the next election three years later.
WELL SAID, Ivan !!
You have summed it up perfectly.
The majority of the population agrees with you.
True democracy is equality of all citizens. No division on race !!
Correct.
Ivan Barnett has hit the nail on the head here. Government – both parliament and the judiciary – have unlawfully spurned democracy. You have only to follow the money to find the real source of sovereign power. Government get their power by taxing the people and of course ‘no taxation without representation’. The Americans warred against the British on that point and justifiably won. Our Government is way out of line and they need roping in.
Ivan, sent this well written piece to Luxon ? Watts ?
While virtually every BV reader will agree with you - however unless these people realize that we are not going to vote for them, they will not change their evil policies.
One day soon, please God, a REAL REBELLION from the public!!!
Love the article, sad that "the general public" will not get to read. If they did, then we would see " the sad, woke, glitterati" - more via social media - "go to town" with derogatory comments, more aimed at the Author & anyone supporting the content.
This started in America, with the George Floyd incident, being a good example - just to remind you it went World wide and led to the "taking the knee".
A sentiment that still reverberates today, a recent example being in the UK, with the failure of policing, and being ignored by the Govt.
Also, another aspect to consider, is how across time Canada, Australia, New Zealand, when it comes to a National/Federal or General elections, how the population "like sheep" followed what The Grandies did in their "day' and voted for -
1:- Labour
2: - National
3: - in later years for either a combination of parties -Australia Lib/Nationals, UK Lib/ Dems or the 'emerging' Green Party.
With this later group the UK is now witnessing the "arise of" such a group, and if UK MSM is to be believed - the leader "is not considered to have sufficient brain cells to be a Politician", but for those who voted for them, who cares, they will be seen as the destructive element.
It is a political element that use social media to great effect and their actions can be reviewed with what started in West Germany, with the same party, who are still part of the political scene.
Thus, once the "votes" are counted, we have seen the placement of -
Australia - Anthony Albanese, who replaced Scott Morrison, who became a "figure" of ridicule, thus the people then sought a new "face" not knowing what was to come.
Now they know.
New Zealand - Chris Luxon, who replaced Jacinda Ardern, more for what she had done and also if she stayed she would became a liability for Labour in the following General Election. Words, led us to believe, now we see - basically re-read this article.
UK - SIr Keir Starmer - The Tories handed the keys to No.10 Downing street, Boris Johnson's "failed" leadership cost that party bigtime.
So, this article makes a valid point, but I remind you - "You get what you voted for".
Anon 10.08
Agreed, until Luxon sees a rebellion in the streets which he can't ignore, then he will continue to wave 2 fingers at us.
Bring on the rebellion !!
Dear Anon @3:48PM June 8.
In the UK there has been a "public revolt", the topic of this revolt was the uncontrolled, continued illegal immigration, more so from France (and it has been revealed with assistance from The Govt, aided/abetted by French Police on the Normandy Coast) - the down side of this "impressive revolt", that had English Citizens from across the Country descend on London, that it had Tommy Robinson as it's leading Personality, a gent who is reviled by the current Labour Govt, many Civil Servants, Police Hierarchy, specific Academics, University students, MSM - thus the Govt "turned a blind ear & eye' to the message that came from this event.
The Govt also "stopped" any other commentator entering the UK, these people had openly expressed that their attendance was in support of the Rally and had been asked to speak.
On the other 'street' was a counter protest, from the Islamic Community - expressing "angst" at what the "other rally' was about.
This is no the first time this has happened and sorry - it was "NOT" news worthy for either TVNZ or TV3 - news, to broadcast - if they did - I do not recall watching it.
So here in NZ, we are in a similar position with a PM, who "has cloth ears" to Public concerns.
Has he had 'training' from Sir Keir Starmer.
Also, in Australia - Anthony Albanese is just as bad - and this is leading Aussie's to "look at a Party" they would never had considered.
It is sad come 7th November, that National plus are likely to be 'returned' to the Treasury Benches as Labour has nothing offer in -
- potential MP's with substance
- Policies going forward.
Oh and if you do "congregate on the lawn" in front of the Parliament Building - I am pondering what 'music' Gerry Brownlee might play?? and will he (also) turn on the sprinklers???!
Revolutions need a leader. It follows then, civilised revolution has happened in the US and will happen in Australia and the UK because they have leaders. We don't have a leader. We are also hampered by so called indigeneity A bit of a ploy I suspect. Let's face it, New Zealand has always had equal rights, equal opportunities, was the first country to give women the vote and doesn't have a class system. So, what else could radicals hang their hat on? Indigeneity will become unfashionable eventually like climate change.
A PM with cloth ears, that about sums it up, a thumb with cloth ears who prefers meeting with the iwi chairs behind closed doors to listening to what the public want.
I’m a landlord. The government hasn’t turned its back on me! I’m also a fan of sticking to contracts you sign, it’s just honest business sense. In that respect the government has turned its back on me, with the anti-treaty legislation being rushed through.
Can’t we get a government who will look after both landlords AND Ti Tiriti? They make it so difficult.
Yes Anon 10;25, you stick with agreements you signed. But you are not responsible personally for something that was signed by someone else in 1840. But if you were, it would be for exactly what was signed for, not later generations fancifully thinking as too what they THINK it means now. (Alice in Wonderland stuff). It also applies to BOTH parties who signed it. Also, if you actually are a landlord, you display a very poor knowledge about it
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