Tom O'Connor: Minds made up on Māori wards bill before it was written?

It seems that the district mayors who signed the joint Local Government New Zealand letter opposing the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill did not read or understand the bill before doing so. I wonder how many consulted their communities before signing.

Admittedly it is not an easy bill to read. But, judging by some of the political rhetoric from throughout the country, minds were made up to oppose the bill well before it was even written.

Muriel Newman: NZCPR Submission - Local Electoral Maori Wards Amendment Bill

Submissions on the Local Electoral (Maori Wards and Maori Constituencies) Amendment Bill close on Thursday 11 February 2021 at 5pm. 

Here is the submission from the New Zealand Centre for Political Research. We would urge anyone who is concerned to send in a submission - details can be found HERE. 

SUBMISSION: Local Electoral (Maori Wards and Maori Constituencies) Amendment Bill

11 February 2021

Committee Secretariat
Maori Affairs Committee
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
ma@parliament.govt.nz

Dear Sir,

Thank you for providing the opportunity to make a submission on the Local Electoral (Maori Wards and Maori Constituencies) Amendment Bill.

This submission on is on behalf of New Zealand Centre for Political Research, a public policy think tank established in 2005.

The NZCPR opposes the Bill and asks the Select Committee to recommend that the Bill be withdrawn on the basis that it is anti-democratic and misleads the public of New Zealand.