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.